Trump-Vance ticket and Harris react to Biden's decision to drop out of the race

Reacting to the news on social media, US Vice President Kamala Harris said she was "honored" by the support and pledged to win the Democratic nomination.

However, on the social network Truth Social, Republican candidate and former US President Donald Trump said that Mr. Biden was "unfit to serve from the beginning".

Trump's running mate, Senator James David Vance (JD Vance), also joined in criticizing Biden, declaring: "Trump and I are ready to save America, no matter who is at the top of the Democratic ticket."

Meanwhile, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised Mr. Biden’s decision but called on Democrats to ensure a transparent process to select a successor candidate who can “best defeat Donald Trump.”

“If they had done this from the beginning, I wouldn't have left the Democratic Party,” added independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In a post on social network X on July 21, US President Joe Biden said he will continue to serve as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025 and will deliver a related speech to the nation this week.

By abandoning his re-election bid, Mr. Biden has cleared the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the first black woman in history to win the Democratic presidential nomination, according to Reuters news agency.

However, Mr Biden, 81, posted a picture of himself with Vice President Kamala Harris as he announced the end of his campaign, and it is unclear whether other senior Democrats will challenge Harris for the Democratic nomination.

Biden's announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials for him to drop out of the race following his stunning performance in last month's televised debate against Republican Donald Trump.

Mr. Biden announced his re-election bid in April this year amid speculation and concerns about his age.

US President Joe Biden, 81, and his opponent Donald Trump, 78, are the two oldest people to be elected president, respectively.