Kamala Harris says she will beat ‘extreme’ Trump

Kamala Harris has vowed to beat Donald Trump and his “extreme” political agenda in the US presidential race.

Ms Harris, tipped to become the next Democrat presidential nominee after Joe Biden stepped down on Sunday, said she would “do everything in (her) power” to keep Trump out of the White House.

“We have 107 days until Election Day,” Ms Harris said in a statement. “Together, we will fight. And together, we will win”.

Moments after Mr Biden bowed out of the race, former President Trump told CNN he believes Ms Harris will be an easier opponent. But privately there are more than a few panicked texts being exchanged in GOP circles.

The Trump campaign firmly believed that Joe Biden was the easiest candidate for them to beat. Polls showed the biggest concern voters had about the Democratic candidate was his age.

That, along with Ms Harris’s potential to appeal to female voters, is now more of a liability for Trump than it is for any of his opponents.

One GOP strategist, Dennis Lennox, told The Telegraph: “This is a whole new race.”

Follow the latest updates below

06:50 AM BST

Harris to make Trump’s age an issue

Ms Harris is set to make Trump’s age an issue in her presidential campaign, Deputy Chief of Staff Erin Wilson reportedly told a call with the group Win With Black Women.

“Her role as a prosecutor makes her the ultimate contrast to Trump, the convicted felon,” The New York Times quoted Ms Wilson as saying.

“She can make the issue of age and fitness a liability for Trump.”

05:57 AM BST

Biden changed his mind after polling data

Internal polling data shown to Joe Biden by top aides on Saturday night prompted him to finally pull the pin on his presidential race.

The data showed that Mr Biden was not just trailing in all six critical swing states that could decide the election, but also collapsing in places like Virginia and Minnesota, where Democrats had not planned on needing to spend massive resources.

Only a day before, Joe Biden was telling many aides that he would continue campaigning to defeat Trump in November.

In the words of one source, “the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead”.

But after digesting the polling data late on Saturday, Mr Biden changed his mind.

“This was really closely held,” an official said. “It came as a surprise to most White House folks.”

05:44 AM BST

What do the polls say?

According to polls, Ms Harris performs no better statistically than Mr Biden against Trump.

In a head-to-head match-up, Ms Harris and Trump were tied with 44pc support each in a July 15-16 Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted after the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump.

Trump led Biden 43pc to 41pc in that same poll, though the 2 percentage point difference was not meaningful considering the poll’s 3-point margin of error.

05:32 AM BST

Celebrities throw their support behind Harris

Several actors, singers and other celebrities have throw their support behind Kamala Harris.

Star Trek actor George Takei led a wave of celebrity responses to Mr Biden’s announcement of stepping down, calling the President a “patriot” and urging people to “unite behind Kamala Harris”.

He wrote on X: “I want to honour our President Joe Biden. He has served our nation admirably for decades, he is a decent honorable man, a hugely successful president, and a patriot. Now let us unite behind Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump in November!”

Singer John Legend posted a statement alongside an Instagram post calling for the American public to “elect Kamala Harris as our President”.

“She’s ready for this fight and I’m excited to help her in any way I can,” Legend said.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis said: “I support wholeheartedly Joe Biden and his decision to step down and to endorse unreservedly Kamala Harris.

“She is trusted and tested and she is a fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of colour and her message is one of hope and unity for America at her time of great national divide.”

05:06 AM BST

In pictures: Americans thank Joe Biden outside the White House

04:45 AM BST

‘Mini-primary’ would be beneficial, say Democrats

Key Democrats believe Ms Harris would benefit from what some call a “mini-primary” to show skeptics, party donors and Americans that she is the best fit for the job.

It would also give contenders a chance to compete or at least debut as potential running mates.

Ms Harris has received a groundswell of support to lead the party. However, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have not yet explicitly endorsed the Vice President.

Ms Harris had phone calls with congressional lawmakers to rack up support late on Sunday, including Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

04:27 AM BST

Democratic chairs endorse Harris

All Democratic state party chairs have backed Kamala Harris to be the party’s new presidential nominee.

The chairs held a conference call after Joe Biden announced he was stepping down.

“Following President Biden’s announcement, our members immediately assembled to unite behind the candidate who has a track record of winning tough elections, and who is a proven leader on the issues that matter to Americans: reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, climate protection, justice reform, and rebuilding the economy,” said Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, in a statement.

“That person is our sitting Vice President Kamala Harris.”

03:38 AM BST

Whitmer won’t challenge Harris, US media reports

Gretchen Whitmer will not challenge Ms Harris for the Democratic nomination, according to US media reports that cited a source with knowledge of her plans.

The New York Times reported that Ms Whitmer took part in a campaign phone call earlier on Sunday as part of a bid to bolster staff for Ms Harris’s campaign efforts.

03:16 AM BST

At a glance: UK front pages

03:01 AM BST

Harris ‘coronation’ seeming likely

Two state Democrat groups in Tennessee and New Hampshire have announced that all their delegates pledged to Joe Biden will instead vote for Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention next month.

It appears that other contenders — including Gretchen Whitmer — are unlikely to run against Ms Harris. Gavin Newsom endorsed Ms Harris on Sunday night.

But if these state groups continue to pledge support for her in advance, it may be that the vote is sewn up for her anyway.

We look to be heading towards a Harris coronation.

02:36 AM BST

Harris begins fundraising

Kamala Harris has already begun sending out fundraising emails to bolster her campaign.

“I am running to be president of the United States,” one of the emails states, asking people to donate anything from $20 (£15) to $500 (£387), or “other” amounts.

“I am honoured to have the president’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”

02:22 AM BST

Venezuelan President: Biden made ‘correct decision’ due to age and ‘weakened health’

While most foreign leaders have issued statements supporting and praising Joe Biden, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed the age and health concerns that marred his election campaign.

Speaking during a campaign event, Mr Maduro said Mr Biden realised that at his age and with “weakened health” he could not run the country.

“I think he made the most sensible and correct decision,” he said. “He prioritised his family and his health. He realised that at that age and with weakened health he could not assume the reins of his country, let alone a presidential candidacy.”

02:14 AM BST

Read the statements from leaders around the world

01:40 AM BST

Newsom backs Harris

Gavin Newsom has endorsed Kamala Harris as the party’s candidate to face Donald Trump in the election.

It comes as The Telegraph earlier revealed he was unlikely to challenge Ms Harris for the Democratic nomination.

“With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, Kamala Harris,” he wrote on X.

01:11 AM BST

Jill Biden ‘supportive’ of Biden’s decision

First Lady Jill Biden was “supportive of whatever road” her husband chose, the BBC reports.

“Down to the last hours of the decision only he could make, she was supportive of whatever road he chose,” Mrs Biden’s communications director, Elizabeth Alexander said.

“She’s his biggest believer, champion, and always on his side, in that trusted way only a spouse of almost 50 years can be.”

12:55 AM BST

Exclusive: Newsom unlikely to challenge Harris

Gavin Newsom is unlikely to challenge Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination, allies of the California governor believe.

Garry South, a Democratic strategist who is close to Mr Newsom, said no serious contender would put themselves forward for the top of the Democratic ticket.

He said that included Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, who has also been touted as a potential replacement for Joe Biden.

“For better or worse the nominee is Kamala Harris,” said Mr South, who also knows the vice president from her time in California.

He added that as the sitting vice president, it would be extremely difficult for any other candidate to challenge her bid. In addition, attempting to “bypass the first female Vice President, first black Vice President” would risk “huge blowback” from Democratic voters.

Mr South stressed that he was not speaking for Mr Newsom, whose state campaigns he previously worked on, and had not discussed the subject with him, but his comments offer an insight into the thinking of those around the governor.

While he admits he is “not a fan” of Ms Harris, Mr South said: “I think as a communicator she has gotten better, her messaging has improved and I think she’s come alive in the last few years.”

12:41 AM BST

White House staff blindsided

White House staff were blindsided by Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race on Sunday.

The US President reportedly told senior aides on Saturday that he was committed to fighting the election, despite weeks of bad publicity following his disastrous debate performance and pressure from senior Democrats to step aside.

He then told them he had changed his mind just moments before his public announcement that he would “stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President”, Politico reports.

The decision was so last-minute that Mr Biden’s staff were phoning delegates ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month when he announced his withdrawal from the race.

Read the full story by Benedict Smith here

12:26 AM BST

Biden has phone calls with party members

Joe Biden has called members of his party in the aftermath of his decision to stand down, the White House has said.

A spokesman said: “Today the President has spoken to a number of Members of Congress, governors and supporters, and will continue to engage with key stakeholders tonight and tomorrow.”

11:58 PM BST

Zelensky grateful for Biden’s ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed Ukraine’s gratitude to President Biden for his “unwavering support” for the country’s “fight for freedom”.

The Ukrainian leader said “we respect today’s tough but strong decision”, after Mr Biden bowed out of the US presidential race.

“We will always be thankful for President Biden’s leadership,” he added. “He supported our country during the most dramatic moment in history, assisted us in preventing Putin from occupying our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war.

“The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America’s continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off.”

11:51 PM BST

Hunter Biden praises father in emotional statement

Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, praised his father in an emotional statement.

He said: “I’m so lucky every night I get to tell him I love him, and to thank him. I ask all Americans to join me tonight in doing the same. Thank you, Mr. President. I love you, Dad.”

11:44 PM BST

Pictured: Supporters place sign by Kamala Harris’ home

11:38 PM BST

Republicans call for Biden to resign as president

More than a dozen Republicans called on Joe Biden to step down on Sunday after he ended his re-election bid, saying that his unwillingness to continue to campaign raises questions about his ability to continue to govern.

Mike Johnson, the House speaker, JD Vance, the recently nominated running mate of Donald Trump, and other lawmakers urged the 81-year-old incumbent to step down from office.

Mr Biden insisted in his statement that he would finish his term, which ends January 20, 2025, and fellow Democrats blasted the calls as “ridiculous.”

11:22 PM BST

Why Nancy Pelosi was on a mission to oust Joe Biden

When Nancy Pelosi rang Joe Biden to warn him of dire opinion polling, suggesting he could not win the next election to Donald Trump, the president insisted he had data saying the opposite, writes Roland Oliphant, Senior Foreign Reporter.

The 84-year-old ex-speaker did something few others would have dared: she demanded to speak to the advisers telling him so and implied they were not telling the president the truth.

“Put Donilon on the phone,” she said, referring to long-time Biden aide and strategist Mike Donilon. “Show me what polls.”

Openly challenging the president and implying that his aides have been lying to him would be bold coming from anyone. From Mrs Pelosi, it must have been especially wounding.

Read the full piece here.

11:14 PM BST

Harris campaign begins

Kamala Harris campaign officials, allies and supporters have started making calls to secure the support of delegates for her nomination ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22, multiple sources said.

“My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Ms Harris said in a statement. “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump.”

10:55 PM BST

Biden summons aides to home before dropping out of race

In the final hours before Joe Biden dropped out, he called two of his most senior aides, Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon, to his home in Rehoboth Beach on Saturday afternoon, according to the New York Times.

Mr Biden was self-isolating at the house after contracting Covid-19 on Wednesday. The three men worked on Mr Biden’s letter dropping out of the race “far into the night,” the paper reported.

Most of Mr Biden’s staff were told about his decision only one minute before he posted the letter, although his family and closest circle were told on Saturday.

The paper said Mr Biden came to the decision after failing for weeks “to flip the attention from his listless and at times incoherent debate performance last month”.

10:38 PM BST

White House confident Harris will have no serious contenders

Sources inside the White House are confident that Kamala Harris will not get a serious challenger as the next Democrat presidential nominee following Joe Biden’s endorsement, according to a person familiar with deliberations who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

Among potential top tier contenders, Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, has already said she will not run. Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has said he would back Ms Harris if she became the nominee.

Other names that have been bandied about as viable contenders — including Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, and Roy Cooper, governor of North Carolina — would also seem unlikely to run in light of Mr Biden’s endorsement for Ms Harris and the expected fundraising advantage she would hold over anyone else.

Meanwhile delegates who are pledged to support Me Biden at the Democratic National Convention expressed admiration for the president and also showed early signs of uniting around Ms Harris.

10:24 PM BST

Biden’s exit is too little, too late

Joe Biden has quit the presidential race; Kamala Harris gets his endorsement, writes Tim Stanley.

To paraphrase the vice president, now we get to imagine what the Democratic ticket could be, unburdened by what was.

Alas, the pair have left it too late to act. The Democratic Party’s reputation, either for compassion or brutal competence, is already damaged.

Biden would still be in the running but for four critical developments. First, his June 27 debate against Donald Trump, which exposed to the world what insiders had known for months: he is physically and mentally in decline. Second, the attempted assassination of the Republican nominee on July 13, which has softened public attitudes towards Trump.

Read the full piece here.

10:15 PM BST

Hakeem Jeffries: Biden one of the most ‘consequential’ US leaders in history

Hakeem Jeffries, a senior Democrat who reportedly told Joe Biden he could not win this year’s presidential race, has hailed the US president “one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history”.

“In less than one term, he rescued the nation from a once-in-a-century pandemic, brought the economy roaring back from the brink of recession, enacted consequential legislation for everyday Americans and saved our democracy by defeating the Insurrectionist-in-Chief,” Mr Jeffries said.

“America is a better place today because President Joe Biden has led us with intellect, grace and dignity. We are forever grateful.”

09:58 PM BST

Republicans fearful over Harris bid: ‘This is a whole new race’

Moments after Joe Biden stepped down, Donald Trump told CNN he believes kamala Harris will be easier to defeat than Mr Biden would have been. But privately there are more than a few panicked texts being exchanged in GOP circles.

The Trump campaign firmly believed that Joe Biden was the easiest candidate for them to beat. Poll after poll showed the biggest concern voters had about the Democratic candidate was his age. That is now more of a liability for Trump than any of his potential opponents.

One key threat the Trump campaign sees in Ms Harris is her potential to draw in female voters. Trump’s 2020 defeat was in part due to suburban women abandoning him, and his campaign has been intensely focused on winning them back.

One GOP strategist, Dennis Lennox, told the Telegraph: “This is a whole new race.”

“Provided that Democrats don’t have fisticuffs on the floor of the Chicago convention that prevent the party from rallying around a replacement nominee, it will be a complete coin flip in November,” Mr Lennox said.

“Ultimately, it will come down to just three states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. If Trump flips Nevada, Arizona and Georgia but Democrats keep those states—their Blue Wall—the Democrats win with exactly 270 votes in the Electoral College compared to 268 for Trump.”

09:44 PM BST

Kamala Harris thanks Biden for ‘selfless and patriotic act’

Kamala Harris has thanked Joe Biden for “putting the American people and our country above everything else” hours after the US president withdrew his bid for re-election.

Ms Harris, tipped among top Democrats to replace Mr Biden as the Democrat nominee, issued a statement which described his decision to stand down as a “selfless and patriotic act”.

Read the full statement below:

09:37 PM BST

Analysis: Trump’s team bullish they can defeat Kamala Harris

Donald Trump’s team are publicly bullish that they can defeat Kamala Harris just as easily as they believed they could crush Joe Biden.

But privately, there are more than a few panicked texts being exchanged in GOP circles.

The Trump campaign firmly believed that Joe Biden was the easiest candidate for them to beat. Poll after poll showed the biggest concern voters had about the Democratic candidate was his age. That is now more of a liability for Trump than any of his potential opponents.

One key threat the Trump campaign sees in Ms Harris is her potential to draw in female voters. Trump’s 2020 defeat was in part due to suburban women abandoning him, and his campaign has been intensely focused on winning them back.

09:26 PM BST

Boris Johnson: ‘I salute you Joe Biden’

Boris Johnson has said he “salutes” Joe Biden for the “bravery of his decision” to bow out of the US presidential race.

“I salute Joe Biden for the bravery of his decision and also for all he has done as president,” the former Prime Minister wrote in a post on X.

“He has been a staunch Atlanticist and friend to Britain throughout his career and it was a privilege to work with him.”

09:22 PM BST

Nancy Pelosi: Biden is one of the ‘most consequential’ US presidents

Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has said Joe Biden is “one of the most consequential Presidents in American history”.

Ms Pelosi, widely seen to have spearheaded the plot to oust Mr Biden as the Democrat presidential nominee, made the remarks in a statement issued shortly after the US leader announced he was dropping out of the White House race.

She added that Mr Biden is “a patriotic American who has always put our country first”.

“His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history,” Ms Pelosi said, expressing her “love and gratitude” to him.

09:12 PM BST

Sunak praises Biden’s ‘love for America and dedication to service’

Rishi Sunak has praised Joe Biden’s “love for America and dedication to service”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the former prime minister said: “Working with Joe Biden, I saw firsthand his love for America and dedication to service.

“Our partnership has led to significant achievements, including Aukus, steadfast support for Israel and joint efforts in defending our people from Houthi threats.

“I wish him all the best.”

09:04 PM BST

Watch: Biden steps down and endorses Kamala Harris

08:55 PM BST

Starmer ‘respects’ Biden’s decision to stand down

Sir Keir Starmer has said he “respects” Joe Biden’s decision to stand down from the US presidential race.

The Prime Minister said he looks forward to “working together” with Mr Biden during the remainder of his presidency.

“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people,” he added.

08:47 PM BST

This is no dignified exit for Joe Biden

“I feel good,” Joe Biden croaked to a small crowd of reporters as he inched up steps towards Air Force One.

With great exertion, the president willed his left leg to hover upwards. A pause. Another step. Then another. Slowly, achingly slowly, the President of the United States of America attempted to climb a flight of stairs.

He had just tested positive for Covid-19, and cancelled a round of interviews intended to prove his ability to cling on to the nomination.

This surreal scene last week was, in retrospect, one of many signs that Joe Biden’s position was no longer tenable. And yet, his sudden announcement – without fanfare or warning – that he no longer intends to stand for re-election feels like a shock. This is history making in the most unfortunate way.

Read the full comment piece, by Poppy Coburn, here.

08:40 PM BST

Last public sighting of Biden

Joe Biden tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday and cancelled a speech planned for that evening.

The US president 81, has not been seen in public since as he has been self-isolating at his beach-front holiday home in Delaware.

Mr Biden is understood to be making a recovery from his illness. Kevin O’Connor, the White House doctor, said Friday that the president still had a dry cough and hoarseness, but his symptoms were improving.

The president’s team insisted on Saturday that he was ready to return to the campaign trail next week, amid a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers called for him to step aside.

Dean Phillips, the Democrat representative for Minnesota, earlier today called on members of his party in Congress to hold a secret ballot to see whether the majority of the party still supported Mr Biden’s re-election campaign.

08:26 PM BST

Bill and Hillary Clinton endorse Kamala Harris

Bill and Hillary Clinton have endorsed Kamala Harris as the new Democrat presidential nominee.

The former president and his wife, the former secretary of state, released a joint statement praising Joe Biden for his “extraordinary career of service” to America, adding that they would “do whatever we can” to support Ms Harris’ bid for the Oval Office.

“We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term,” the statement said.

“He has promised to be a dictator on day one, and the recent ruling by his servile Supreme Court will only embolden him to further shred the Constitution.

“Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”

08:17 PM BST

Analysis: Democrats must now scramble to build a presidential campaign

This was a decision that Joe Biden never wanted to make.

For weeks, he has resisted pressure from dozens of senior figures within his party to step down. Although there have been concerns about his age and health for some months, a disastrous debate performance against Donlad Trump on June 27 set off a political chain reaction that has taken Mr Biden to the brink, and then over it.

By standing down, he has become the first eligible one-term president to give up the nomination since Lyndon B Johnson in 1968, and he hasn’t gone quietly.

The final straw appears to have been the willingness of some of the most high profile figures in the party, including Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, to make known their concerns in media reports over the last three days.

The statement Mr Biden endorses Kamala Harris, but makes no reference to the reasoning behind his departure. Democrats must now scramble to build a presidential campaign from scratch, with just four months until America votes on November 9. The stakes could not be higher.

08:14 PM BST

Scottish First Minister praises Biden’s ‘selfless’ decision to bow out

John Swinney has commended Joe Biden for his “selfless” decision to end his 2024 bid for the presidency.

In a post to X, the First Minister of Scotland, wrote: “Joe Biden has served the people of the USA with devotion and total commitment.

“Now, in a typically selfless act, he steps aside to do what he thinks is right for his people.

“He came to Scotland for Cop26 and made a powerful contribution. He has our best wishes for the future.”

08:10 PM BST

Mike Johnson calls for Biden to resign as president

Mike Johnson, the US house speaker, lambasted Kamala Harris for knowing “as long as anyone” of Joe Biden’s “incapacity to serve” as US president, shortly after Mr Biden stepped down from the presidential race.

Mr Johnson said Ms Harris, now tipped among top Democrats to replace Mr Biden, “co-owns the disastrous policy failures of the Biden Administration”.

He also called on Mr Biden to resign as president. “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President,” Mr Johnson said. “He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough.”

07:55 PM BST

Telegraph readers believe Michelle Obama is only alternative to beat Trump

Joe Biden has announced that he will “stand down” and not run for reelection.

Prior to Mr Biden’s withdrawal from the race, an exclusive poll conducted by The Telegraph showed 88 per cent of over 90,000 voters believed Mr Biden should stand aside.

When asked who would be the best Democrat candidate to replace Mr Biden and beat Donald Trump, Michelle Obama came out on top with 62 per cent of the vote; 19 per cent of nearly 61,000 voters opted for ‘none of the above’; and Gavin Newsom trailed with 5 per cent of the vote.

It comes as a Reuters and Ipsos survey showed the former first lady, 60, would beat Trump by 10 points, with no other possible candidate beating the former president.

Read the full piece here.

07:47 PM BST

Kamala Harris only slightly more popular than Biden in swing states

Kamala Harris, the vice president, holds a negative net approval rating among voters in seven of the eight states polled by The Telegraph and Redfield & Wilton Strategies earlier this week.

Ms Harris holds a positive net approval rating in Nevada (+1 per cent) and a neutral rating in Arizona (0 per cent).

Joe Biden held a negative net approval rating among voters in all states polled. His highest approval rating came in Georgia (0 per cent), while his lowest was in North Carolina (-10 per cent).

07:39 PM BST

Biden allies hit out at Democrats who ousted him

Ron Klain, Joe Biden’s former chief of staff and long-time ally, has hit out at donors and politicians who “pushed out the only candidate who has ever beaten [Donald] Trump”.

“Now that the donors and electeds have pushed out the only candidate who has ever beaten Trump, it’s time to end the political fantasy games and unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign — our outstanding @vp, @KamalaHarris!!,” Mr Klain wrote in a post on X. “Let’s get real and win in November!”

07:32 PM BST

Donald Trump responds to Biden stepping aside

07:31 PM BST

Mounting Democrat pressure on Biden to quit campaign

The US president ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in ability to beat Donald Trump.

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.

In the aftermath of the debate Mr Biden had insisted that he would remain in the race, at one point challenging his critics to “go ahead and challenge me” and telling an interviewer only “The Lord Almighty” could persuade him to step aside.

But in recent days the president’s resolve appeared to have weakened after key congressional leaders Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi reportedly told him he was likely to lose in November.

On Wednesday Mr Biden told BET News that he would “reconsider running” if a serious medical condition emerged. On Wednesday the White House confirmed the president had been diagnosed with Covid-19.

His decision to withdraw from the race came days after California congressman Adam Schiff became the most senior elected Democrat to publicly call on Mr Biden to drop out. On Thursday night he was joined by Montana senator, Jon Tester, who faces an uphill battle to hold his seat.

The last Democratic president to withdraw from an election campaign was Lyndon Johnson in 1968, but he did so much earlier in the race.

07:26 PM BST

Telegraph readers react to Biden stepping down

07:17 PM BST

Gavin Newsom praises Joe Biden as ‘history-making’ president

Gavin Newsom, the California Governor whose name has been floated as a contender to take on Donald Trump in November, praised Joe Biden as a “history-making president” minutes after he announced he was stepping aside.

“President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans,” he wrote on social media.

“He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents. Thank you, @JoeBiden.”

07:16 PM BST

Top Democrats favour ‘open process’ to select new candidate

Nancy Pelosi, prior to Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, reportedly called for an “open process” to select a new Democrat candidate.

Ms Pelosi is keen to avoid the appearance of a Kamala Harris “coronation” by awarding the ticket directly to the US vice president, believing that an uncompetitive process would put voters off, according to Politico.

Zoe Lofgren, a representative for California and ally of Pelosi, told  MSNBC on Friday that Ms Harris would be “the leading candidate”, but could not be handed the role without any democratic process.

“I think kind of a mini primary, maybe a vetting hosted by former presidents including Obama and Clinton, would be helpful and help focus the attention,” Ms Lofgren said.

07:12 PM BST

Biden to address nation next week

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.”

07:07 PM BST

Biden steps aside. What happens next?

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.

06:57 PM BST

Joe Biden’s letter withdrawing from US presidential race

06:42 PM BST

More Democrats call for Biden to ‘pass on the torch’

The uproar over Joe Biden’s reelection bid shows no signs of abating, with a fifth senator today urging him to withdraw from the race and let Democrats hold an “open process” for a new nominee.

The Biden campaign acknowledged “differing opinions” but said the party would unite to defeat Republican Donald Trump.

Joe Manchin, an independent Senator for West Virginia, who considered a White House run this year, was the latest member of Congress to suggest Mr Biden should “pass the torch” and focus on the remaining months of his presidency.

“I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Mr Manchin said in a series of Sunday news show interviews.

Nearly three dozen Democrats in Congress have said it’s time for Biden to leave the race, even as the 81-year-old incumbent plans a return to campaigning this week after isolating at his Delaware beach home with Covid.

06:22 PM BST

Election in Pictures

06:02 PM BST

Biden ready to return to campaign trail

Joe Biden has said he’s ready to return to the campaign trail, even as a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers called for him to step aside.

It comes as the Biden campaign is touting a joint letter by state Democratic Party chairs from seven swing states that urges Democrats to unite around the US president.

“We understand the anxiety. But the best antidote to political anxiety is taking action. You can’t wring your hands when you’re rolling up your sleeves,” said the party chairs from Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

05:44 PM BST

‘Grudge against Obama’ driving Biden’s decision to stay in race

Joe Biden is determined to continue his re-election campaign because he resents being overlooked as a presidential contender by Barack Obama, according to reports.

Current and former Biden aides told Axios that the US President believes he could have beaten Donald Trump in 2016, when Democrats, including Mr Obama, rallied around Hillary Clinton instead.

They believe that the lingering resentment from that experience has diminished Mr Obama’s influence with his former vice president as he comes under increasing pressure to stand aside for a younger candidate.

In an NBC News interview on Monday, Mr Biden said he had not talked to his former boss in a couple of weeks.

Mr Obama is reported to have told allies that the US President needs to seriously consider his position. Senior Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries, are said to have told him he cannot win.

05:13 PM BST

Minnesota Democrat calls for secret ‘vote of confidence’ on Biden

Dean Phillips, the Democrat representative for Minnesota, has called on members of his party in Congress to hold a secret ballot to see whether the majority of the party still supports President Biden’s re-election campaign.

“That calls for a vote of confidence amongst my colleagues. A secret ballot, because so many are afraid that if they speak the truth they’re going to be punished, which is what happens in this business,” Mr Phillips told CBS on Sunday.

A secret ballot “to present privately to the president” would “be helpful”, he said.

Mr Phillips, who launched a bid against President Biden earlier this year, said he believes the majority of Congress does not support him staying in the race.

04:58 PM BST

Michigan’s shock poll spells bad news for Biden

A new poll from the battleground state of Michigan, where Trump - his right ear bandaged from the recent attempt on his life, held a raucous rally Saturday - carried grim news for the president.

The poll, which began the day Trump was wounded at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13 and ended as he was accepting his party’s nomination in Milwaukee on July 18, found Trump leading Mr Biden 49 per cent to 42 per cent.

Four years ago, Mr Biden carried the state by three percentage points.

The Epic-MRA poll showed Trump doubling his lead since the last poll on June 27, just before the presidential debate that proved disastrous for the president.

The survey even gave Trump a narrow lead in metropolitan Detroit, normally safe Democratic territory.

04:43 PM BST

Speaker Johnson: Republicans could file challenges if Biden replaced

Any attempt by the Democrats to replace President Biden with a new candidate is likely to be met with legal challenges, Mike Johnson, the US House speaker, warned on Sunday.

“Every state has its own system, and in some of these, it’s not possible to simply just switch out a candidate,” Mr Johnson, echoing remarks he made at the Republican National Convention this week, told ABC.

Speaking of a possible switch on Thursday, the Louisiana Republican said: “I think in states where it can be contested, I expect that it will be, and they’ll have an interesting battle on their hands.”

His comments suggest a possible strategy the Republicans may be looking into if Mr Biden decides to exit the race.

Although the president has not yet been formally nominated as the Democrat candidate, Mr Johnson believes there are still grounds for a challenge as he was the clear winner at the party’s primaries.

04:27 PM BST

Biden campaign received best fundraising haul of election after disastrous debate

Joe Biden’s campaign received its best fundraising haul of the election race following his disastrous debate performance last month.

New campaign-finance filings released this week revealed that Mr Biden’s poor election debate on June 27 and Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts on May 30 sent money flooding into the president’s fundraising pot.

The Democrats raised roughly $28 million over a two-day period between June 27 and June 28 and another $19.2 million on the two days following Trump’s conviction, reports The New York Times.

The same was not true for the Republicans who raised $11.9 million in the same period after the debate, which is only slightly higher than a typical fundraising day. However, Trump’s campaign received $69 million in the two-day period after his conviction.

Mr Biden outraised Trump in June but the Republicans had roughly $49 million more to play with as they headed into July, according to figures released by both campaigns.

The amount of cash drawn in after Trump’s assassination attempt will not be known until the data is released next month.

04:10 PM BST

Trump warns of a ‘slaughter in the suburbs’

Donald Trump warned of “slaughter in the suburbs” and called Joe Biden a “sick, weak, pathetic man” in his first rally since surviving an assassination attempt last weekend.

The Republican presidential nominee had promised “unity” for the US in the wake of his shooting in Pennsylvania last Saturday, which shocked the country and triggered a surge in support for Trump in opinion polls.

Mr Trump had this week urged his supporters to dial down their rhetoric to focus on national consensus amid a divisive US election race.

But at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday night, Trump returned to his usual combative style – and at times dark tone – as he railed against the “radical Left Democrats”, accused his opponents of “rigging” the election and calling Mr Biden “crooked”.

Read more here.

04:01 PM BST

Trump questions Biden’s levels of security as he draws ‘flies’ not crowds

Donald Trump has questioned the level of security Joe Biden receives after he accused the president of drawing “flies” not crowds to his campaign events.

Trump, who is seeking to understand how no one stopped the would-be assassin from attempting to shoot him last week, asked: “There’s some things going on with our government that we have to really worry about. “Did we have enough people?”

“Why didn’t we have enough people? Somebody said that a lot of people were put on Biden’s detail, the problem is Biden doesn’t draw anybody, he draws flies,” he added in an interview with Fox News on Saturday.

03:42 PM BST

Clintons are privately calling on donors to stand by Biden

Bill and Hillary Clinton are said to be privately encouraging Democrat donors to stick by President Biden and keep funds rolling in, according to a report.

The Clintons’ support for the president was “encouraging”, “supportive” and “deferential” to Mr Biden’s decision to stay in this race, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

The former president and former secretary of state are said to have told skeptic donors that the president is committed to staying in the race and eager to get back out on the campaign trail.

03:36 PM BST

Secret Service denied Trump team requests for more security

The Secret Service repeatedly denied requests from Donald Trump’s team for greater security in the two years leading up to his attempted assassination, sources have revealed.

Agents charged with protecting the former president asked for more personnel, magnetometers, additional snipers and specialty teams for outdoor events, four people familiar with the requests told the Washington Post.

The requests, the sources said, were denied by senior Secret Service officials, saying at times it lacked resources. A spokesman for the agency confirmed to CNN on Sunday that they did not provide certain resources in the past.

In the wake of the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, the Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny over the security lapses that allowed the would-be assassin a direct line of sight to the Republican candidate.

Kimberly Cheatle, the agency’s director who is under pressure to resign, is set to testify before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee on Monday at a hearing to discuss the gun attack.

03:24 PM BST

First Congressional Democrat calls for Secret Service director to resign

Brendan Boyle, representative for Pennsylvania, is the first Democrat in Congress to call on the Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle to “resign immediately”.

Mr Boyle said on Saturday that the agency’s security blunders that allowed a shooter to target Donald Trump from a roof only 120 metres from the stage were “unacceptable operational failures”.

He joins a loud chorus of Republican lawmakers telling Ms Cheatle to step down, however she so far retains the support of President Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary for Homeland Security.

03:06 PM BST

Trump’s ex doctor shares new details on bullet wound

Donald Trump’s former White House doctor has shared new details about the bullet wound that the Republican nominee suffered during his attempted assassination.

Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican, said that the shooter’s bullet had pierced a part of the cartilage of Trump’s right ear, creating a two centimetre wound.

In a letter shared by Trump on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Jackson also wrote that there had been significant bleeding and swelling on the entire upper ear, but that no stitches were required.

Although it was healing properly, intermittent bleeding meant the wound still needed to be dressed, he added.

02:54 PM BST

Trump says Xi wrote him a ‘beautiful’ note after

Donald Trump has said that Xi Jinping, China’s president, wrote him a “beautiful” note in the wake of last week’s assassination attempt.

“And I got along very well with President Xi. He’s a great guy, wrote me a beautiful note the other day when he heard about what happened,” Trump told the excited crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan at his first rally since the shooting.

“Most of the leaders did,” he added, without specifying which world leaders had contacted him.

02:40 PM BST

Senator Manchin calls on Biden to ‘pass the torch’

Joe Manchin, a former Democrat turned independent, has become the latest senator to call on President Joe Biden to “pass the torch”.

Mr Manchin, who previously has been vocal in his support for his longtime friend Mr Biden in his re-election bid, said he hoped the transfer of power can be done “in the most respectful way.”

“I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” he said in an interview on CNN on Sunday.

He did not endorse Kamala Harris to replace Mr Biden but said he was “partial” to Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear.

02:32 PM BST

Democrat donors funding effort to vet VP candidates

Major Democrat donors are said to be funding a preliminary vetting process for a potential vice-president nominee should President Biden stand down.

Those involved in the effort, which is independent of the Biden campaign, have been reaching out to the teams of Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s governor, and Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s governor, sources told The Washington Post.

The donors are also said to be interested in the vetting of North Carolina’s governor Roy Cooper, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Arizona senator Mark Kelly.

02:22 PM BST

Trump’s team preparing attack plan for Harris if Biden steps aside

Donald Trump’s campaign are preparing an attack plan for Kamala Harris if President Biden stands aside in favour of his vice president, sources have revealed.

The choreographed effort will include waves of ads focusing on her record in her current office and in California, two people briefed on the matter told The New York Times.

Trump’s team has also compiled research books on Ms Harris, the sources said, adding that there were similar dossiers on other senior Democrats who may become the party’s nominee should Mr Biden step down.

The former president’s advisers are also said to be paying close attention to Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania - the state Trump is set on winning in order to help secure a win over the Democrats.

01:57 PM BST

Election in Pictures

01:22 PM BST

Giddy fans watch Trump go back on the attack

Donald Trump had vowed to never again discuss the moment a gunman grazed him with a bullet during a packed rally in Pennsylvania, claiming it was “too painful”.

But when the Republican nominee returned to the campaign trail seven days after he was rushed off stage by a gaggle of Secret Service agents, he couldn’t help himself.

After the dramatic attempt on his life, Trump basked in the deafening screams of his thousands of supporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as he regaled them with stories about the attempt on his life.

“Last week I took a bullet for democracy,” Trump said to a rapturous applause from the audience, who waved a sea of placards emblazoned Trump and Vance.

Read the full article here.

01:19 PM BST

Trump: ‘How did somebody get on that roof?’

Donald Trump has claimed that nobody forewarned him of a problem in the lead-up to the former president’s rally in Pennsylvania last week, when a would-be assassin shot him in the ear.

“Nobody mentioned it, nobody said there was a problem. I would’ve waited for 15, they could’ve said let’s wait for 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 5 minutes, something. Nobody said,” Trump told Fox News in an interview on Saturday.

“I think that was a mistake,” he added. “How did somebody get on that roof? And why wasn’t he reported?”

01:13 PM BST

Sexist claims women agents failed Trump are ‘insulting’

The US homeland security chief hit back on Saturday after misogynistic attacks on the female Secret Service agents who threw themselves into the line of fire to protect Donald Trump from a shooter.

“These assertions are baseless and insulting,” Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement after some on the US Right accused the agency of “woke” hiring practices, which they said nearly killed the former president.

Mr Mayorkas praised “highly skilled and trained” women serving in law enforcement across the country for risking “their lives on the front lines for the safety and security of others”.

“They are brave and selfless patriots who deserve our gratitude and respect,” he wrote.

01:10 PM BST

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