Biden steps down, endorses Harris for 2024 election

After announcing that he would not seek a second term, US President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that he supports the candidacy of his Vice President Kamala Harris in the November elections.

"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. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year," wrote Biden.

Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the race for President of the USA. He announced an address to the nation in which he will justify his decision and declared that he will fulfill his duties until the end of his term. He also informed that he supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's candidate for President of the USA.

On Sunday, Biden published a statement on platform X in which he wrote: "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," Biden wrote. "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."

Biden emphasized that "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."

He noted that serving as President has been the greatest honor of his life.

And 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 to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," he declared.

He added that he will address the nation this week and explain the reasons for his decision.

"For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected. 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," he wrote.

"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," summed up the current President.

Biden’s statement comes from pressure from the Democratic camp to drop out of the race for the US presidency after a failed debate with Donald Trump on June 27.

Most polls published after the debate with Donald Trump indicated a slight increase in Trump's lead over Biden. Meanwhile, a poll published this week by Emerson College suggested that Trump is leading in all seven key states for the election outcome.