Biden drops out of 2024 election, endorses Harris

REHOBOTH BEACH, United States — Joe Biden on Sunday dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee, in a stunning move that upends an already extraordinary 2024 race for the White House.

Biden, 81, said it had been the "greatest honor of my life to serve as your president" as he bowed to weeks of pressure to step aside after a disastrous television debate performance against Donald Trump stoked worries about his age and health.

"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 in a letter on X.

He issued the statement while recovering from Covid at his beach house in Delaware, and said he would address the nation later in the week to explain his decision not to seek a second term.

First Lady Jill Biden reacted by simply reposting his statement, along with two hearts. Granddaughter Naomi Biden said on X that she was "nothing but proud today of my Pop, our President."

Biden's exit throws Democrats into fresh instability as November 5 rapidly approaches, with no automatic replacement candidate. However, there is also an opportunity to reenergize the demoralized party.

Biden swiftly announced he was backing Harris, 59, who is  who is the first Black and South Asian woman to be vice president in US history and will now be aiming to become the first female commander-in-chief.

"Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year," Biden said on X. "Democrats -- it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this."

Still highly influential former Democratic president Barack Obama cautioned that "uncharted waters" lie ahead but "an outstanding nominee" will emerge.

Republican former president Trump led other Republicans in saying that because Biden had not been "fit to run" for president, he was now not "fit to serve" either.

The plot twist will rattle Trump too, forcing him to recalibrate a campaign that was focused almost entirely on Biden.

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