US President Joe Biden has ended his 2024 bid for the presidency amid doubts he is fit for four more years in the job.
In a letter posted on Twitter/X on Sunday evening, Biden said it was in the "best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down".
In another tweet, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as candidate, adding: "I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year".
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. 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… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Harris is the party’s instant favourite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.
In his letter, Biden added that he will be doing an address to the nation next week to give "more detail" about the decision.
The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old President trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to criticise the former president’s many falsehoods.
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on January 20, 2025.
Read the full letter below.
"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.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
"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 revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
"It has been the greatest honor 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 later 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."
