US President Joe Biden on Sunday made a shock announcement that he would not seek re-election for a second term as the president in November and backed US Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic party's nominee for the Presidential elections and take on the Republican nominee, former president Donald Trump.
In a statement reacting to the news, Trump stated that Biden was not fit to run for president or serve as one.
In a written statement issued on the social media site 'X' (formerly known as Twitter), Biden said that he would serve the remainder of his term as the 46th President of the US until the winner of the November elections is sworn in early next year.
"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," he stated.
"I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision."
He used the opportunity to remind the public of his achievements during his three and a half years in office, pointing to lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, expanding affordable health care to Americans, providing critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances, passed the first gun safety law in 30 years, appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court, and passed significant climate legislation.
"America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today," he said as he thanked the American public for its support, Vice President Kamala Harris and his campaign team, which was working on his re-election.
It is pertinent to note that pressure was mounting on Biden to stand down after a jarring televised debate with his chief opponent, Trump, in which he was incoherent and appeared lost. Biden, however, was defiant for weeks, insisting that he would contest the November elections.
However, it seems the pressure from within the Democratic party and from his vice president, Harris, eventually told, after the Republican National Convention earlier in the week where Trump was confirmed as the Republican nominee for elections.
He has now backed Harris to become the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump in the November elections.
However, Biden's decision to step down is seen as an admission of defeat in his electoral battle with Trump.
'Never fit to lead'
Reacting to the news, former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump hit out at Biden and the Democratic party for putting in place an unfit candidate and president.
"Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve - and never was," Trump wrote on X.
He claimed that Biden won the 2020 elections through 'lies' and 'fake news'.
Trump stated that everyone around Biden, including his doctor, was aware that he was not capable of being president.
"We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will make remedy the damage he has done very quickly."