US President Joe Biden endorsed Vice-president Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party after opting out of the race on Sunday.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. 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,” the 81-year-old President said in a post on X.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he added in the post.
Notably, if Biden’s endorsement is accepted, Kamala Harris will become the first Indian-origin woman to contest the US presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris said she was honoured to have Biden’s endorsement and that she intends to “earn and win this nomination.”
Harris released a statement calling Biden’s decision to end his campaign a “selfless and patriotic act.” She also thanked Biden for his “extraordinary leadership” and argued that his legacy as a one-term president would surpass the records of many chief executives who served two terms in office.
Biden announced his decision to drop out of the US presidential election race moments before endorsing Harris and said in a statement that it was “in the best interest of country” for him to “stand down”.
In a statement posted on X, Biden said that he would now solely focus on fulfilling his duties as the President of the United States for the remainder of his term.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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 said.
Notably, Biden’s decision to drop out of the race came after pressure from the Democratic lawmakers and party officials after his weak performance in the first presidential debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.
