In a historic move, US President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of his reelection battle with Donald Trump. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party's candidate.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you as president," the 81-year-old Democrat said in a letter in X, posted while he was recovering from Covid at his beach house in Delaware.
"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 focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."
Biden said he would "speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision."
The stunning move makes Biden the first president in US history to pull out so late in an election race, and the first to bow out because of concerns over his mental acuity and health.
It also makes Vice President Kamala Harris the frontrunner from within the party to fight the elections against former President Donald Trump whose assassination attempt has changed and challenged the poll dynamics.
Harris has emerged as a strong performer on the campaign trail on collections as well as key messages such as abortion rights. The former prosecutor made history when she was elected the first woman vice president as well as the first person of Indian American and black origin.
