Joe Biden has pulled out of the US presidential race, saying “it is in the best interest of my party and the country”.
The decision comes after weeks of resistance by the 46th president of the United States amid concerns for his health.
Biden made the announcement in an open letter posted on X just before 4am on Monday AEST.
https://www.twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1815080881981190320
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on January 20 next year.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in the letter.
In his letter he did thanked but did not immediately throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s instant favourite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago. In a subsequent statement Biden endorsed Harris to be the Democrat candidate for president.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President.And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.
“Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
The 81-year-old president, who turns 82 just weeks after the election on November 5, has showed worrying signs of ageing that were most notable during his debate with Donald Trump
MORE TO COME
Joe Biden’s full letter:
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the nation alter this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do — when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
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