Biden's Surprise Exit: Kamala Harris to Lead Democratic Party

US President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race and endorsed his deputy, Kamala Harris, to be the Democratic Party's nominee for the November general elections. Biden, who had been self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, will address the nation to explain his decision.

US President Joe Biden will address the nation on Thursday (early Friday morning local India time) to explain his decision to withdraw from the presidential race and endorse his deputy, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic Party's nominee for the upcoming November general elections.

Biden, 81, returned to the White House Tuesday afternoon after spending nearly a week at his Delaware residence, where he had been self-isolating following a positive COVID-19 test in Las Vegas, where he was campaigning last week.

"Tomorrow evening at 8 PM ET, I will address the nation from the Oval Office on what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people," Biden stated on Tuesday.

"This afternoon, I arrived back at the Oval Office and sat down with my national security team for my daily intelligence briefing. Serving as your Commander-in-Chief continues to be the greatest honor of my life," he wrote on X. Biden also posted a picture of himself entering the White House residence upon his return. "It's great to be back at the White House," he wrote.

This will be the second time Biden addresses the nation this month, the previous instance being on July 14, following a failed assassination attempt on former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

(With inputs from agencies.)