Joe Biden drops out of US presidential race

United States President Joe Biden says in a letter on X he is stepping down as a candidate in the 2024 election, endorses Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

Dozens of congressional Democrats have publicly urged the 81-year-old to step aside after his shaky debate performance last month against Republican challenger Donald Trump, 78.

Biden has repeatedly dismissed these calls, insisting he is the most qualified person to defeat Trump and that the push for his exit is primarily driven by Democratic elites and the media.

The standoff has left the party at a crossroads, just weeks before the Democratic National Convention kicks off on August 19 and less than four months until the November 5 election.

Read the letter