President Joe Biden has announced his decision to end his candidacy for re-election, citing the best interest of his party and the country.
The announcement comes just four months before Americans are set to go to the polls, significantly impacting the race for the White House.
In a letter posted to his social media account, President Biden described his tenure as the greatest honour of his life.
He wrote, “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 the duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
The decision follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats, particularly after a faltering debate performance against Republican contender Donald Trump at the end of June.
This unexpected move upends the political landscape, prompting speculation and strategic recalculations within the Democratic Party as they seek a new candidate to lead them into the upcoming election.