Joe Biden has pulled out of the US presidential race, saying “it is in the best interest of my party and the country”.
The decision comes after weeks of resistance by the 46th president of the United States amid concerns for his health.
Biden made the announcement in an open letter posted on X just before 4am on Monday AEST.
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on January 20 next year.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, 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,” Biden wrote in the letter.
He did not immediately throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s instant favourite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.
