Joe Biden withdraws from US presidential race

US President Joe Biden on July 21 decided to withdraw from the Nov. 5 presidential election, after fellow Democrats lost confidence in his physical and mental ability to defeat Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

Biden said in a post on X that he would continue to serve as President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces until the end of his term in January 2025, adding that he would speak to the nation later this week. 

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. 

While I had intended to run for another term, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my presidency for the remainder of my term," Biden said in the post.  

Biden stepping down paves the way for his running mate Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Party's nominee, making her the first black woman ever to run for president.