Vice President Kamala Harris wasted no time launching her 2024 presidential campaign, seeking the support of fellow Democrats with the backing of President Joe Biden after he pulled out of the race amid concerns about his age and health.

Mark Kelly

Senator Kelly was elected in December 2020 as a senator from Arizonan to fill out the remainder of John McCain's term. A navy veteran, who served as a combat pilot in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and Kuwait, the lawmaker is also a former NASA astronaut. His first space mission was in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour and a decade later, he commanded the Space Shuttle's final mission.

Roy Kapoor

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has also backed her nomination. "She has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country thoughtfully and with integrity," he said.

With a background in law, he took over as Attorney General in 2000. He was elected Governor in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Governor Cooper has worked to combat the opioid crisis in North Carolina and is credited with launching the state's first Opioid Action Plan in 2017. He also helped formulate Carolina's first children's health insurance initiative.

Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also endorsed Harris even as his name cropped up as a possible Vice Presidential candidate. Governor Shapiro said he will do everything he can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States. As the Governor of the state where Donald Trump was shot at a week ago, Governor Shapiro condemned the attack saying, "Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable."

Asian markets fell Monday as Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the US presidential race fuelled fresh uncertainty, while traders appeared to be unmoved by China's decision to cut interest rates in a bid to boost the country's stuttering economy.

After last weekend's assassination attempt on Donald Trump -- and the following Republican convention -- boosted bets he would win November's election, investors were trying to work out the ramifications of the news out of the White House.

Democrat Ashwin Ramaswami, the first Indian-American from Gen Z to run for a state or federal legislature in the US, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's presidential nominee, saying it "would be a major step forward for Indian-American and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) representation in this country". "Vice President Harris would make history as the first Indian American President of the United States," said Mr Ramaswami, whose parents immigrated to the US from Tamil Nadu in 1990. Generation Z (also known as Zoomers) encompasses those born between 1997 and 2012. "Just like Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, my mother is from Besant Nagar, Chennai, which makes this incredibly special for me," he said.

Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has praised US Vice President Kamala Harris for her work and said that she is a tough lady who has done an outstanding job as senator. Speaking to ANI, Mr Thanedar said he thinks Ms Harris will be a great President. 

"You know, I have just recently, just a couple of weeks ago, I have met her in Detroit. She's very personable. She cares deeply about the democratic issues like, you know, protecting a woman's right to choose or protecting workers rights, you know, creating economic opportunities. She's very strong on small business, growth of small businesses. So I look forward to working with Kamala Harris as a member of Congress. And she is particularly, you know, I'm so proud that she would be our next president," he said.

Democratic fundraising group ActBlue said Sunday evening that it had seen its biggest single-day haul of the 2024 election after US President Joe Biden dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. "As of 9pm ET, grassroots supporters have raised $46.7 million through ActBlue following Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign launch. This has been the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle," said a post on X by the group, which facilitates online fundraising for Democratic candidates.

From former presidents to current lawmakers, Biden's party faithful rallied around him as he passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, endorsing her to take on Donald Trump.

Harris herself praised Biden's "selfless and patriotic act," saying in a statement that his accomplishments are "unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office."

In a joint statement, former president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of State Hillary Clinton said they "join millions of Americans in thanking President Biden for all that he accomplished."

Barack Obama, who picked then-senator Biden as his running mate in 2008, called him a "patriot of the highest order," but warned of "uncharted waters in the days ahead" -- and stopped short of endorsing Harris.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who still wields immense influence among Democratic lawmakers and had reportedly been pushing for Biden's exit, called him "a patriotic American who has always put our country first."

In a phone call with CNN minutes after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the 2024 race, former President Donald Trump responded, “He is the worst president in the history of our country. He goes down as the single worst president by far in the history of our country.” 

Trump also said he thought Vice President Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat than Biden would have been, according to CNN.

Markets face a new US electoral calculus after President Joe Biden's abrupt announcement that he will end his campaign against former President Donald Trump for re-election. The US dollar eased on Monday in the initial reaction.

For years Kamala Harris faced criticism that she was not up to the job of being a heartbeat away from the US presidency. Now, she finds herself feted by Democrats as their best hope to stop Donald Trump's comeback.

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race for the White House leaves a gap atop the Democratic presidential ticket that the party is now rushing to fill.

All 50 Democratic party state chairs have thrown their weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party's new presidential nominee, Reuters reported citing sources familiar with the matter. The chairs held a conference call on Sunday after President Joe Biden announced he was stepping aside as the party's candidate. There was "full support" in backing Harris to be at the top of the ticket, one source said. 

Barack Obama praised US President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the White House race on Sunday, saying it was testament to the US leader's "love of country" -- but warned of "uncharted waters" ahead of the November 5 election. "Internationally, he restored America's standing in the world, revitalised NATO, and mobilised the world to stand up against Russian aggression in Ukraine," said Obama.

Read full statement here.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he respected Biden's decision and that he looks forward to working together during the remainder of his presidency. "I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people," he said in an online post.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has thanked Biden for his years of service. "I’ve known President Biden for years. He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As President, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you," Trudeau wrote on X. 

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has thanked President Joe Biden for his "unwavering support of Israel over the years", after he dropped out of the US Presidential race. "Thank you President @JoeBiden, for your unwavering support of Israel over the years. Your steadfast backing, especially during the war, has been invaluable. We are grateful for your leadership and friendship," he wrote on X.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked President Joe Biden for taking "bold steps" in supporting his country, praising his "tough but strong decision" to end his reelection bid. "The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America's continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off," Zelensky wrote on social media platform X.

The dollar eased on Monday in the initial reaction to U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign, clearing the way for another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump.

China's yuan was largely unfazed by the central bank's decision to cut a key interest rate.

The U.S. currency slipped 0.08% to 157.38 yen early in the Asian day, while the euro gained 0.11% to $1.0895.

Biden announced he was exiting the race on Sunday, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic candidate in the November election.

Israeli political leaders have expressed gratitude to US President Joe Biden for his backing of Israel throughout his long career after the Democratic incumbent announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential election, media reports said.

Biden, who made his first overseas trip as a young Senator to Israel, ended his bid for re-election on Sunday following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the presidential election, The Times of Israel reported.

Israel's Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on Sunday shared an undated photo on X of him shaking hands with Biden, writing, "Thank you."

President Isaac Herzog extended his thanks for Biden's "friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades-long career".

"As the first US President to visit Israel in wartime, as a recipient of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, he is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples," Herzog posted on Sunday on social media platform X, noting the US President Biden's visit to Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 massacres, The Times of Israel reported.

An influential US senator on Sunday joined calls for President Joe Biden to end his candidacy in favor of a younger Democrat, while a shock poll from the swing state of Michigan illustrated the growing sense that he will lose to Donald Trump if he stays in the race.

"I came to this decision with a heavy heart, but I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation," Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat-leaning independent from West Virginia, said on CNN.

The call from a longtime friend of the president's reinforced a swell of increasingly urgent pleas from top party officials for the 81-year-old Biden to step aside as signs mount of his eroding support.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is potentially poised to become the Democratic presidential nominee in the November election. Here are her views and actions related to some key business topics.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket, removing a key possible rival to the nomination after Joe Biden's shock exit from the White House race.

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America's Vice President, @KamalaHarris," Newsom wrote on X.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to stick largely to Joe Biden's foreign policy playbook on key issues such as Ukraine, China and Iran but could strike a tougher tone with Israel over the Gaza war if she replaces the president at the top of t

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the US election offers Democrats the precious opportunity for a late reset in a campaign that was going badly -- but ushers in an uncertain few weeks that will make or break their chances against Donald Trump.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign officials, allies, and supporters have started making calls to secure the support of delegates for her nomination ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August, multiple sources said.

The outreach, which started soon after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid on Sunday, would be essential to ensuring Harris replaces Biden on the Nov. 5 ballot as the party's rival to Republican Donald Trump.

"A lot of people are working on it right now," a source familiar with the matter said. "She has made clear she will work to earn their support," the source said.

About 4,000 Democratic delegates, meeting in Chicago from Aug. 19-22, will pick the Democratic Party's nominee. Most are committed to Biden. After his abrupt announcement, they are not bound by any law or party rules to back anyone.

Biden was the party's presumptive nominee, but he has no direct power over choosing the delegates' formal nominee.

Harris needs the support of 1,969 of the 3,936 Democratic delegates to secure her nomination at the August convention.

Abortion rights groups including Emily's List and Reproductive Freedom for All have been reaching out to delegates to make the case also for Harris. The vice president has been the leading voice for abortion rights in the Biden administration.

The vice president's office declined to comment.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday he respected U.S. President Joe Biden's "tough but strong" decision to end his reelection campaign.

"Ukraine is grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical," Zelenskiy said in a post on social media platform X.

"Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today's tough but strong decision."

U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday ended his reelection campaign. He said in a letter posted on social media platform X that he would remain in office until the end of his term and address the country later this week on his decision.

Joe Biden is a "true patriot," top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Sunday, after the president announced he was standing aside and abandoning his bid to retake the White House.

"Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he's a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American," Schumer posted on X. 

Four years ago, as he ran for the White House, Joe Biden saw himself as a one-term president -- a savvy conduit from the chaotic years of Donald Trump to a new generation of Democratic leaders.

World leaders lined up to pay tribute to US President Joe Biden Sunday after he announced he was dropping out of the US presidential race, even as Republicans called on him to step down from the job before the end of his term.

Biden announced his decision in a letter released on Sunday, a stunning move that upends the 2024 race for the White House. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee.

One senior Republican argued that if he was not fit to run for re-election then he was not fit to serve out his term. But world leaders lined up to pay tribute to the Biden's achievements as US president.

"You've taken many difficult decisions thanks to which Poland, America and the world are safer, and democracy stronger," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

"I know you were driven by the same motivations when announcing your final decision. Probably the most difficult one in your life," added Tusk, who served as the European Council president between 2014 and 2019.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he respected Biden's decision, adding: "I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.

"I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also paid tribute to Biden's legacy.

The Democratic party will be taking a historic gamble if it now turns to Vice President Kamala Harris to become its presidential candidate, betting that a Black woman can overcome racism, sexism and her own missteps as a politician to defeat Republic

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the presidential race against challenger Donald Trump, following a dismal debate performance and flagging polling numbers.

President Joe Biden's shock decision Sunday to end his reelection bid drew an outpouring of heartfelt reactions from American voters.

Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump crowed, "the Corrupt and Radical Democrats are throwing him overboard" after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race for the White House.

"He was annihilated in an Earth Shattering Debate," Trump posted on Saturday on Truth Social, the X-like social media platform he uses, mangling the capitalisation of his text.

After the June 27 debate in which his performance raised questions about cognitive abilities and his capacity to match Trump's campaign vitality, Biden announced he was dropping out of the race and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party candidate.

Trump piled on personal insults and questions about Biden's performance in the post, "Crooked Joe Biden is the Worst President, by far, in the History of our Nation."

"Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way," the Republican senator wrote on X, saying Harris had "lied for nearly four years about Biden's mental capacity."

"President Trump and I are ready to save America, whoever's at the top of the Democrat ticket. Bring it on," Vance concluded.

US President Joe Biden has announced that he is stepping out of the pesidential race slated for later this year. To this announcement, Joe Biden's wife Jill Biden had a no-word response, just a heart emoji.

If a week is a long time in politics, the last eight days of the US presidential campaign have proved a drama of epic proportions.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he respected US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the race for the White House, paying tribute to a "remarkable career".

"I respect President Biden's decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency," Starmer wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people," he added.

Many Democrats on Sunday quickly backed Vice President Kamala Harris to run as the party's presidential nominee against Donald Trump after incumbent President Joe Biden's abrupt departure from the race, but some powerful party members, including form

Leading Democrats were quick to hail Joe Biden's legacy on Sunday after the US president's historic decision to end his reelection bid, while Republicans angrily called for his prompt resignation.

From former presidents to current lawmakers, Biden's party faithful rallied around him as he passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, endorsing her to take on Donald Trump. 

In a joint statement, former president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton said they "join millions of American in thanking President Biden for all that he accomplished.

Republican leaders, including Trump, slammed Biden's presidency and called for the 81-year-old to resign before the end of his term in January.

"Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve -- And never was! ... We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump posted on his Truth Social network shortly after Biden's announcement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson meanwhile said that "if Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president."

"He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough," he said in a statement.

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race for the White House leaves a gap atop the Democratic presidential ticket that the party is now rushing to fill.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to drop his reelection bid deserved recognition, and praised his achievements including strengthening the NATO military alliance.

"Joe Biden has achieved a great deal: for his country, for Europe, for the world," Scholz said on X.

"Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition."

US Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Joe Biden's "patriotic" decision not to seek reelection Sunday and vowed to win the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump.

"With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else," she said in a statement.

"I am honored to have the president's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.... "I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party -- and unite our nation -- to defeat Donald Trump."

The Democratic Party will hold a "transparent and orderly" process to pick a new nominee, the party chair said Sunday after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the White House race.

"In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November," chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement praising Biden.

Thirty-six congressional Democrats have publicly called on Democratic President Joe Biden to end his re-election bid after the 81-year-old incumbent's halting debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.

Donald Trump's campaign team on Sunday lashed into Vice President Kamala Harris after Joe Biden endorsed her to take his place atop the Democratic Party's presidential ticket, saying she would be "even worse" than the outgoing leader.

"Harris will be even worse for the people of our nation than Joe Biden. Harris has been the Enabler in Chief for Crooked Joe this entire time. They own each other's records, and there is no distance between the two," the campaign said in a statement.

DAVID WAGNER, PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT APTUS CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA:

"We may see a bit of reversal in what has worked in the market over the last two weeks, with smaller capitalization stocks running, but by no means would I expect the market to give all those gains up.

"The bigger event for the market will be who will be in the ticket for Democrats because their policies and regulation ideas would be more impactful.

"Biden endorsed Harris, but I think they'll be a lot of cooks in the kitchen over the next two weeks vying for the position - I believe it's wide open."

GUY LEBAS, CHIEF FIXED INCOME STRATEGIST, JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT:

"It's unclear at this point how Biden's stepping aside will affect markets. In no small part that's because we don't know much of how a Harris administration would differ from a Biden 2.0 in terms of economic policy."

Barack Obama praised US President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the White House race on Sunday, saying it was testament to the US leader's "love of country" -- but warned of "uncharted waters" ahead of the November 5 election.

Biden had "every right" to run for reelection, the former president said in a statement, lauding the 81-year-old's record and calling him a "patriot of the highest order."

"We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges," he continued.

Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded – again – that he’s a patriot of the highest order.
Here’s my full statement: https://t.co/Bs2ZumFXxe

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 21, 2024

Following are some reactions from abroad to U.S. President Joe Biden's decision on Sunday to pull out of his campaign to seek reelection in November:

Joe Biden is "one of the most consequential Presidents in American history," former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday, after the US leader announced he was dropping out of the White House race.

Biden is "a patriotic American who has always put our country first.  His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history," Pelosi said in a statement, expressing her "love and gratitude" to him.

Vinod Khosla, venture capitalist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, reacted to Joe Biden quitting the presidential race.

Time to have an open convention and get a more moderate candidate who can easily beat @realDonaldTrump. @GovWhitmer and @GovernorShapiro would be a great thing for America not held hostage between MAGA extremists and DEI extremism. Unique opportunity for a better moderate path.…

— Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) July 21, 2024

The Kremlin said Sunday it was monitoring developments after US President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 US election race, adding that a "lot can change" in the meantime.

"The election is still four months away. And it's a long time, during which a lot can change. We need to pay attention, follow what will happen and go about our business," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Life.ru news outlet.

Former president Donald Trump on Sunday reacted to Joe Biden ending his reelection bid, claiming the incumbent president is "certainly not fit to serve."

Kamala Harris

She seems like the obvious choice, and Biden has given her his endorsement. US Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been a heartbeat away from the Oval Office since Biden's January 2021 swearing in, is well positioned to be the Democratic Party's standard-bearer. The 59-year-old Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, is a trailblazer.

Gavin Newsom 

There is no rule that a running mate automatically replaces the presidential candidate in the case of a withdrawal. This is why California Governor Gavin Newsom's name keeps popping up. The 56-year-old Democrat, a former mayor of San Francisco, has been at the helm of the Golden State -- the most populous in the United States -- for five years, and has made it a haven for abortion access.

Gretchen Whitmer 

Another possible Democratic candidate is Gretchen Whitmer, the 52-year-old governor of Michigan. Her state has both a strong working-class population and major Black and Arab American communities -- all key groups of voters that Biden struggled to court. Whitmer, a fierce critic of Trump, is perhaps best known for being the intended target of a kidnapping plot devised by a far-right militia group.

The Clintons have rallied behind Kamala Harris to take on Donald Trump in the November election. Biden too has endorsed Harris to challenge Trump.

Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton pic.twitter.com/R7tYMFWbsu

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) July 21, 2024

Joe Biden must resign as president "immediately," the top Republican in Congress said Sunday, after the US president announced he was abandoning his bid to retake the White House amid intense pressure over his age. "If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough," said House Speaker Mike Johnson in a statement.

Joe Biden was "not fit to run" and "is certainly not fit to serve" as president, his Republican rival Donald Trump said Sunday, after the US leader said he was dropping out of the White House race.

"Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve -- And never was! ... We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump posted on his Truth Social network shortly after Biden's announcement.

Joe Biden is a "true patriot," top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Sunday, after the president announced he was standing aside and abandoning his bid to retake the White House.

"Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he's a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American," Schumer posted on X. 

For years Kamala Harris faced criticism that she was not up to the job of being a heartbeat away from the presidency. Now, she finds herself feted by Democrats as their best hope to stop Donald Trump's comeback. Despite blazing a trail as the first woman, Black and South Asian vice president in US history, the 59-year-old Democrat long struggled with approval ratings as bad or worse than President Joe Biden's. The last 12 months, however, have revealed a transformed Harris.

And with Biden's endorsement of Harris after stunning the world by dropping his own reelection bid Sunday, she's suddenly on the cusp of history.

Joe Biden's withdrawal upends what was already a White House race for the ages, but it will rattle Donald Trump, too -- forcing him to recalibrate a campaign that was focused almost entirely on his former opponent. For months Trump and his allies have been playing on concerns that the 81-year-old Biden may no longer be fit for office, gleefully sharing video clips of every stammer, rhetorical gaffe and red carpet stumble. 

But with the Democrat no longer in the race, the Trump operation finds itself pushed into a strategic pivot, forced now to shift its messaging to fit a contest with no incumbent and a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent, although Biden did endorse Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday as he pulled out of the race. 

Biden said he would "speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision." The Democratic Party is now plunged into chaos and needs to find a new candidate by November's election, with Vice President Kamala Harris the frontrunner. Biden bowed out after weeks of pressure that began with a disastrous debate performance that raised fears over his health. 

The stunning move makes Biden the first president in US history to pull out so late in an election race, and the first to bow out because of concerns over his mental acuity and health. Biden spent more than three weeks resisting calls to step down following the shock of the June 27 debate, at one point insisting that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to back out.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told CNN on Sunday that he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat in November's election than Democratic President Joe Biden who stepped aside as his party's candidate. A CNN reporter said on X that Trump made the comments to the network shortly after Biden announced his decision.

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… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris is seen by many as a logical replacement, but several Democrats favor an approach that would allow her, and a short list of rising party stars, to make their case.