Full text of Biden’s statement on withdrawing from the presidential race:
My fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we as a nation have made great progress.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We have made historic investments in rebuilding our country, in lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. Passed the first gun safety legislation in 30 years. Appointed the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court. Passed the most important climate legislation in world history. America has never been in a better position to lead than it is today.
I know that none of this could have been accomplished without you, the American people. Together, we have overcome a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We have protected and preserved our democracy. And we have revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president. And while I intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and country that I step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
Let me now express my deepest gratitude to all those who worked so hard to secure my re-election. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an outstanding partner in all of this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I’ve always believed: that there’s nothing America can’t do when we do it together. We just need to remember that we are the United States of America.