Joe Biden quits US presidential re-elections race

Washington:  US President Joe Biden announced the end of his re-election campaign on Sunday after losing the confidence of fellow Democrats regarding his mental sharpness and ability to defeat Donald Trump, creating an unprecedented situation in the presidential race.

In a post on X, Biden confirmed he will continue his duties as president and commander-in-chief until his term concludes in January 2025 and plans to address the nation this week.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While I intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my responsibilities as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote.

With Biden's exit, Vice President Kamala Harris is positioned to run at the top of the ticket, making her the first Black woman to do so in US history. Biden, 81, did not mention Harris in his announcement.

It remains uncertain whether other senior Democrats will challenge Harris for the party’s nomination, though she is widely seen as a favored choice among many party officials. The party's decision on whether to open the field for additional nominations is also unclear.

Biden's decision follows significant public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to withdraw from the race after a notably poor performance in a recent televised debate against Republican rival Donald Trump.