Biden quits - latest: Donations surge to election high after Biden quits - as ex-Trump aide says Harris faces 'big problem' (2024)

Many senior Democratic figures have come out swinging for Kamala Harris since she launched her presidential campaign.

But some big names have been absent from the cheerleading list, including former president Barack Obama and ex-House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Michael Yaki, a former senior adviser to Ms Pelosi, told Sky News he believed their lack of public support was "deliberate... but not for the reasons people think".

He said the former leaders don't want to be seen as "kingmakers" for Ms Harris.

"I think they're backing off and letting the grassroots, the delegations, the other leaders... come out in favour of her because then it looks much more organic. It doesn't look top down, it doesn't look like it was staged," he said.

Mr Yaki said this will important for Ms Harris's "legitimacy" as she continues her bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee.

US representative Adam Schiff has said he does not think there was a coordinated campaign to nudge Joe Biden out of the presidential race.

He told our US partner network NBC that he felt "immense gratitude" to the president for considering what was in the best interest of the country.

"I certainly wasn't part of any coordinated campaign. I don't think there was [one]. I think you have individual leaders in the party looking at the polls and increasingly concerned about the trajectory we are on. It was hard for all of us.

"Joe Biden wasn't going to be intimidated or pushed, he was going to make his decision when he was ready to make it."

Mr Schiff also said he was "very excited" to throw his full support behind Kamala Harris.

"I haven't seen this kind of excitement in the Democratic Party for a very long time. People are really energised," he added.

"We've got a former prosecutor running against a convicted felon."

Senator and former Democrat Joe Manchin has confirmed he will not be a candidate for the November election, following rumours he was considering competing for the Democratic nomination.

Mr Manchin, 76, who became an independent in May, earlier told CNN he had not given any serious thought about re-registering as a Democrat and did not confirm whether he would challenge the vice president (see 12.16 post).

But in a new interview with CBS, the West Virginia senator said he will not be running.

"I am not going to be a candidate for president," he said, adding the process to choose a nominee should be competitive.

"I think a lot of people would like to see a mini-primary," said Mr Manchin.

"That's the process - find out if you have the strongest candidate, whether it could be Kamala or whoever else."

Footage has resurfaced of former Republican Donald Trump opponent Nikki Haley saying that "the first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate is going to be the one who wins the election".

Ms Haley ran a bitter primary campaign against Mr Trumpand once described him as "totally unhinged" and unfit for office.

She has since U-turned to support the former president - using an address at the Republican National Convention to deliver a "strong endorsem*nt" of him.

Now that Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 race, Mr Trump, 78, is the oldest nominee of the two major parties to ever run for president.

By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

Western leaders have showered Joe Biden with praise for his efforts to bolster democracies against the rise of authoritarian powers after he bowed out of the US presidential race.

But there will doubtless be anxiety behind closed doors at how his flip-flopping over whether or not to run again for the White House may have made the chance of a Donald Trump victory – and all that will mean for the future direction of US foreign policy – even more likely.

At the same time, America's allies will be feeling a sense of relief that weeks of increasingly uncomfortable scrutiny of 81-year-old Mr Biden his ability to serve another four years as leader of the world's most powerful nation is over.

The drama, which is dominating US domestic politics, had also started to overshadow major world events, including a NATO summit in Washington earlier this month, where the most memorable moment was when Mr Biden mistakenly introduced Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin, his arch nemesis:

Harris foreign policy stance would follow Biden lead

The focus in foreign ministries around the world will now shift to who is going to replace Mr Biden on the Democrat ticket, though whoever does take on this role will unlikely herald any significant shift on the Biden approach to international affairs.

This includes the frontrunner, Kamala Harris, his vice president.

On Russia's war in Ukraine, she has strongly endorsed the president's stance on the need to arm the Ukrainian military to push back Russia's invaders. Ms Harris has played a prominent role in articulating the US position on the world stage, such as speaking as the most senior US voice at an annual security conference in Munich.

As for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, Ms Harris has gone further than the president in calling for a ceasefire and expressing horror over the Palestinian civilian death toll, but the US – led by the Biden-Harris administration – has retained military support to Israel, despite growing global outrage at its conduct of the war.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is due to travel to Washington on Monday to meet with the outgoing president, who has been a staunch supporter of Israel throughout his decades of public service, including as vice president when Barack Obama was in power.

"This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as senator, as vice president, and as president," Mr Netanyahu said.

"It will also be an opportunity to discuss with him how to advance in the critical months ahead the goals that are important for both our countries... in this time of war and uncertainty, it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always."

US allies will miss Biden's depth of knowledge

Mr Biden – unlike Ms Harris or any of the other potential candidates who might seek to compete with her for the Democrat nomination – has a keen interest in foreign affairs and has forged long-standing relationships with leaders around the world.

It is a depth of knowledge – and an appreciation of the western world order that grew from the ashes of the Second World War – that whoever succeeds him will struggle to match. This is something that allies will likely miss.

A defining foreign policy feature of the Biden White House has been his determination to restore ties between the United States and its closest partners – in particular the NATO alliance – that were badly strained during Mr Trump's previous four years in power.

"America is back" was a slogan that Mr Biden often used during his first months in office, making clear that working with western allies against authoritarian states such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea was a top priority.

This attitude would likely stay the same under Ms Harris.

The big change – which will have a far more significant impact on the rest of the world – is not who the Democrats choose to run for president now that Mr Biden is out, but – if they lose – what an incoming Trump presidency will mean for America's friends and its foes.

The confusion of the past few weeks and ongoing uncertainty among Democrats will have surely fuelled sense of inevitability in capitals around the world that officials and politicians should step up preparations for a second Trump era.

A US senator and once senior Democrat has declined to take the opportunity to endorse Kamala Harris.

Joe Manchin, 76, who left his party after decades to become an independent in May, has said he does not know if he will re-register as a Democrat or run against Ms Harris.

Unnamed sources previously told the Hill and the Wall Street Journal he was considering a bid for the candidacy.

Mr Manchin told CNN today he has not given any serious thought about re-registering, and when asked if he would challenge the vice president, Mr Manchin said: "I don't know."

The senator, of West Virginia, was among those calling for Joe Biden to pull out of the presidential race last week.

"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 at the time.

Kamala Harris is in pole position to become the Democrats' election pick after Joe Biden withdrew - but where does she stand on some of America's key issues?

We've taken a look at the vice president's views on US support for Ukraine, abortion rights, the situation in the Middle East, immigration and gun control.

Read the full story here:

Nicole Johnston, Asia correspondent

Officially China's government has said that what happens in the US election is a US issue that does not involve China.

Unofficially, China is watching every twist and turn of this democracy drama with fascination.

The contrast could not be more striking.

Here in Beijing, we have the tightly controlled authoritarian leadership of President Xi Jinping; juxtapose that with an attempted assassination of Trump, the attendance of Hulk Hogan at the Republican convention, and now the news with Biden.

Taking all that into account, it is little wonder that you can detect a sense of smug satisfaction in China's state-controlled coverage of the US election season.

The political chaos in the US plays into the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative that democracy causes instability, while a no term limit presidency (as is the case in China) does not.

Chinese people, who are following events in the US, view it like a reality TV show. It's been far more interesting watching the US lurch from crisis to crisis than watch the CCP's third plenum economic summit, which was held last week. That event was behind closed doors and ended with a laborious communique.

Political and media freedom in the US allows all its dirty laundry to be aired to the world, and China is tuning in.

After Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, messages of support and gratitude for his years of service have poured in from near and far.

Here we take a look at how foreign leaders have reacted to the announcement.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy,Ukrainian president

"Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today's tough but strong decision. We will always be thankful for President Biden's leadership."

Olaf Scholz,German chancellor

"Joe Biden has achieved a great deal: for his country, for Europe, for the world.

"Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition."

Benjamin Netanyahu,Israeli prime minister

"In this time of war and uncertainty, it's important thatIsrael's enemies know that America and Israel stand togethertoday, tomorrow and always.

"I plan to see President Biden, whom I've known for over40 years. This will be an opportunity to thank him for thethings he did for Israel in the war and during his long anddistinguished career in public service, as senator, as vice president, and as president."

Dmitry Peskov,Kremlin spokesman

Mr Peskov said Russia was "not too surprised" by Joe Biden withdrawing.

He said Kamala Harris had so far made no contribution to Russian-US relations and that US politics were not a priority for Moscow.

Christopher Luxon,New Zealand prime minister

"President Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect. I thank the president for his leadership of the US and his commitment to New Zealand. And I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency."

Justin Trudeau,Canadian prime minister

"I've known President Biden for years. He's a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As president, he is a partner to Canadians - and a true friend. To President Biden and the first lady: thank you."

Donald Tusk,Polish prime minister

"Mr President, Joe Biden, many times you have made difficult decisions that have made Poland, America, and the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger. I know that you were guided by the same principles when announcing your latest decision. Perhaps the most difficult one in your life."

Anthony Albanese,Australian prime minister

"President Biden has been a great friend of Australia and that will continue."

Fumio Kishida,Japanese prime minister

"I recognise that President Biden made the decision from the standpoint of what was best politically. Needless to say, the Japan-US alliance is the pillar of Japan's diplomacy and security, so we'll closely watch the future developments."

Sir Keir Starmer says he respects Joe Biden's decision to step away from the presidential race.

The UK prime minister said it would not have been "an easy decision, but a decision that I know he will have arrived at taking into account the best interests of the American people".

Speaking at an airshow in Farnborough, Sir Keir said: "I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency."

Asked about the US election, the prime minister said he will "work with whoever the American people elect into office - as you would expect - particularly given the nature of the special relationship between our two countries".

He added this was "forged in difficult circ*mstances" and "endured for years".