Joe Biden has officially withdrawn from the presidential race against former president Donald Trump. 

Biden, who is the oldest US president at 81, has been facing mounting calls to drop out of the election from both his opponents and supporters, amid fears of his failing health, mental clarity and age. 

On Sunday, the 46th president shared a lengthy statement to share that he would be dropping out of the race, saying it is “in the best interest” for both his Democratic Party and the country to take a step back. 

“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,” Mr Biden wrote in a letter he posted on his X account.

“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President.”

Biden shared a second announcement to social media following his bombshell withdrawal, saying he would be endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee to run for President in the November election against Trump. 

“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,” he began.

“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.”

Mere hours after Biden’s announcement, former President Donald Trump reacted to the news on TRUTH social, his own social media platform, exactly as many expected. 

“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was!” Trump said.

“All those around him, including his doctor and the media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly.”

In a phone call with CNN minutes after Biden announced his exit from the 2024 race, former Trump described Biden as going “down as the single worst president by far in the history of our country”.

Mr Biden will remain President until the end of his term next January.

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