File image of U.S. President Joe Biden
| Picture Credit score: AP

U.S. President Joe Biden ended his reelection marketing campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats misplaced religion in his psychological acuity and skill to beat Donald Trump, leaving the presidential race in uncharted territory. He additionally introduced his endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris because the Democratic nominee.

Mr. Biden, in a publish on X, stated he’ll stay in his position as president and commander-in-chief till his time period ends in January 2025 and can tackle the nation this week.

“It has been the best honor of my life to function your President. And whereas it has been my intention to hunt reelection, I consider it’s in the most effective curiosity of my celebration and the nation for me to face down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the rest of my time period,” Mr. Biden wrote.

By dropping his reelection bid, he clears the best way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run on the high of the ticket, the primary Black lady to take action within the nation’s historical past.

Mr. Biden, 81, in a separate publish on X, stated that he would assist and endorse Ms. Harris to be the Democratic celebration nominee forward of the Democratic Nationwide Conference.

“My very first choice because the celebration nominee in 2020 was to select Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the most effective choice I’ve made. At the moment I wish to provide my full assist and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our celebration this yr. Democrats — it’s time to come back collectively and beat Trump. Let’s do that,” he wrote.

It was unclear whether or not different senior Democrats would problem Ms. Harris for the celebration’s nomination, who was broadly seen because the choose for a lot of celebration officers — or whether or not the celebration itself would select to open the sector for nominations.

Mr. Biden’s announcement follows a wave of private and non-private stress from Democratic lawmakers and celebration officers to stop the race after his shockingly poor performance in a televised debate final month towards Republican rival Donald Trump.