Biden ends failing reelection campaign, backs Harris as nominee

REHOBOTH BEACH, Delaware: U.S. President Joe Biden abandoned his floundering reelection bid on Sunday under growing pressure from his fellow Democrats and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party's candidate to face Republican Donald Trump in the November election.

Biden, who at 81 is the oldest person ever to have occupied the Oval Office, said he will remain in his role as president until his term ends on Jan. 20, 2025, and will address the nation this week. He has not been seen in public since testing positive for COVID-19 last week and is isolating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

"While it has been my intention to seek reelection, 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," Biden wrote on X.

The move dramatically reshapes a White House contest that has been shaken repeatedly in the last month, including by Biden's disastrous June 27 debate performance - which drove his fellow Democrats to urge him to drop out - the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump, 78, and Trump's naming last week of hardline Republican U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, 39, to serve as his vice presidential running mate.