The US president ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump, leaving the presidential race in uncharted territory.
The 81-year-old had been under mounting pressure to stand down since his halting performance in June’s presidential debate against Donald Trump which heightened concerns over Mr Biden’s ability to win the election.
A succession of verbal gaffes coupled with Mr Biden’s increasingly visible physical frailty served only to intensify doubts among senior Democratic strategists especially with Trump surging in the polls after the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Mr Biden’s decision to abandon his bid for re-election will open the way for a new generation of Democrats, including 59-year-old vice president Kamala Harris to enter the fray.
Joe Biden has said he will address the American people later this week “in more detail” about his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected.” Mr Biden added. “I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.”
Joe Biden is set to remain in the White House until the election in November, in which an alternative candidate will have to challenge Donald Trump.
Front runners include vice president Kamala Harris, California governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The new candidate will be selected by delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, starting on August 19.