Biden stands down from re-election bid and endorses Kamala Harris for president

President Joe Biden has announced that he will bow out from his efforts to secure a second term in the White House following weeks of pressure from Democratic Party insiders and plummeting poll numbers, and endorsed his vice president to be his successor.

The announcement came less than a month after the president’s disastrous debate performance in Atlanta, which led to some Democrats to call for his exit. It also dovetails the conclusion of the Republican National Convention, when the Republican Party made a strong show of unity behind former president Donald Trump after the former president was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Biden made the announcement in a letter posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, becoming the first president in 56 years to call off a re-election campaign.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” he said. “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 focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”

He also endorsed Harris to receive the Democratic nomination for president, likely to stave off a contested convention when the Democrats convene in Chicago next month.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he said. “ Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Harris responded in her own statement, calling her service with Joe Biden for nearly four years “a profound honor”.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking