"Restored US leadership around world ...": Blinken praises Biden after he drops out of election

Washington, DC [US], July 22 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has praised President Joe Biden after he announced that he is not seeking reelection, and called it an "honour" to work for Biden for the past 22 years.
Blinken said that Biden restored US leadership around the world and delivered "historic accomplishments" while serving as president.
In a post on X, Biden stated, "It has been -- and remains --the honor of my life to work for @POTUS for the past twenty-two years. He has restored US leadership around the world and delivered historic accomplishments as President. I look forward to building on that record with him over the next six months."
His statement follows Biden's announcement to not seek re-election in the "best interest" of the Democratic Party and the country. He said that he will speak to the nation later this week in more detail. He endorsed Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.
In a letter posted on X, Biden stated, "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term. I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision."
He also expressed gratitude to US Vice President Kamala Harris for being an "extraordinary partner" for him. He even thanked people who worked for his re-election.
He said, "For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. 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. I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can't do - when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."
He said that the US has been a strong economy in the world and they have made historic investments in rebuilding the nation, lowering prescription drug costs for seniors and expanding affordable healthcare to a record number of Americans.
Highlighting the achievements of his government in the past, Biden said, "Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans."
"We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today," he added.
In a letter, Biden said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as US President. Biden noted that the US overcame the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Biden recalled that his first decision as the Democratic Party's nominee in 2020 was to choose Harris as his Vice President and termed it the best decision he has made.
Taking to X, Biden stated, "My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it's been the best decision I've made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats -- it's time to come together and beat Trump. Let's do this."
It is pertinent to mention here that if Biden's endorsement is accepted, Kamala Harris will become the first Indian-origin woman to contest the US presidential elections.
Biden dropped out of the race after weeks of pressure from Democrats following his incoherent performance in the nationally televised 90-minute debate with Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump on June 27.