US President Joe Biden says it has been "greatest honour of my life" to serve as he ends campaign
President Joe Biden of the United States has stated that he will not run for re-election, stating that it is better for his political party and the nation.
It happens four months prior to the American election, shaking up the presidential race.
After a weak debate showing against Republican Donald Trump in late June, he faced strong criticism from his fellow Democrats for weeks.
After the news was released on Sunday night, President Biden publicly supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.
In his support, he stated that choosing Ms. Harris as his running mate was his top choice as the party's nominee in 2020 and described it as the most beneficial decision he has made.
Kamala Harris promised to use all her influence to bring together the Democratic Party and the entire country in order to overcome Donald Trump.
In a post on his social media page, he shared that stepping down from his position was a huge honor and the highlight of his career.
"I had planned to run for another term, but I have decided that stepping aside is the right choice for my political party and the nation. I will now concentrate on my responsibilities as President for the rest of my time in office," he stated in his message.
Demands for Biden to drop out of the race started to increase following a terrible debate showing in late June versus Donald Trump.
In the discussion, he faced criticism for frequently appearing unclear and speaking softly - which his party attributed to having a cold.
Afterwards, members of his party began to urge him to step down, as more and more Democratic congress members feared that his campaign could harm their chances of getting re-elected in November.
A small group of senators, who are part of the higher chamber of Congress, also urged him to step down.
Just under two weeks ago, President Biden gathered with Nato leaders for a summit, fully aware that he would be closely examined in the aftermath of his debate appearance.
The event only added to the tension among his own party, as he mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" and seemed to mix up the vice president's name by calling them "Vice President Trump".
Even though Kamala Harris has the support of the current president, it remains uncertain whether she will be chosen uncontested as the new nominee.
In addition to the president, she has also secured the support of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama, whom Joe Biden worked with as vice president, made a statement applauding Mr. Biden as "one of the most influential presidents in America's history" - but did not acknowledge Kamala Harris.
After dropping out on Sunday night, the American TV network CBS, which is partnered with the BBC, stated that the Democratic National Committee was having an urgent meeting.
Next month in Chicago, all eyes will be on the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
Biden won overwhelmingly in the primaries, which resulted in the delegates from each state being committed to voting for him at the convention. However, it is likely that they will now be allowed to support a different candidate.
President Biden expressed his gratitude towards Vice President Kamala Harris, praising her as an exceptional collaborator.
"And I want to sincerely thank the people of America for believing in me and trusting me," his message continued.
I have always believed and still do today that there is no challenge too great for America to overcome, as long as we come together as one. It is important to always remember that we are a united nation, the United States of America.
He stated that he would speak to the country about the issue in the coming week.
He came back to his house in Delaware last week after being told he had Covid, but mentioned on Friday that he was excited to start campaigning again next week.
In the past, he claimed that only a higher power could convince him to step down, but he later mentioned that he might consider resigning if he had a health issue.
Replying on his Truth Social platform, Republican candidate Donald Trump stated that Joe Biden was "not capable of running for president."