WASHINGTON/ANKARA, July 22 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- United States (US) President Joe Biden on Sunday withdrew from the race for the US presidency and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic Party's nominee.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a statement posted on X.
Biden offered his "full support and endorsement" for Harris to replace him as the presidential candidate in the upcoming elections to be held on Nov 5, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
"Democrats -- it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this," he added.
Biden said he would address the nation later this week in more detail about his decision.
His candidacy has been in the spotlight following his dismal performance against former President Donald Trump in a presidential debate late last month.
Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, amid rising calls for Biden to withdraw from the race.
Later in a statement, Harris said she was honoured to have Biden's endorsement, adding that her "intention is to earn and win this nomination".
"Over the past year, I have travelled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. That is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party -- and unite our nation -- to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda," she said.
"We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win," Harris wrote.
According to CNN, citing a source familiar with the issue, plans for Biden to withdraw from the race were put into action on Saturday night and finalised on Sunday.
Biden is still recovering from a COVID-19 diagnosis, resting at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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