he says it is in the best interest for america and his party kamala harris says she is ready for the job. she win support from key democrats. but can she get enough of them united behind her? republican presidential nominee donald trump says presidential nominee donald trump sastoe biden was never fit to be president, and says he will fix the damage caused hunter biden to make america great again — he says. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky thanks inform taking bold steps to support him in the war against russia. —— ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky thanks president biden for.

welcome to bbc news. let's update you on our big story. several top democrats are rallying behind kamala harris afterjoe biden announced he is ending his re—election bid and endorsing her as the democratic nominee for the 2024 us presidential election. in a post on x, vice president harrison said it had been the — rather, this is president biden�*s quote, it has been the greatest honour "to serve as your president. " he says it is in the best interests of the country that he step down and focus on being present for the remainder of his term. he has formally endorsed kamala harris to be democratic nominee and will address the nation in a speech to the country later on this week. that is what he

said in his letter, announcing that he was stepping down. donald trump reacted on his social media platform truth social saying "crooked joe biden was not fit to run for president and is certainly not fit to serve and never was. he only attained the position of president by lies, fake news, and not leaving his base," is what donald trump said. he said his doctor and the media knew he wasn't capable of being president, "and he wasn't." he went on, and i quote "we will suffer because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage very quickly — make america great again." that is what donald trump said in response tojoe biden stepping out of the presidential race. this talk about the democratic convention. gavin newsom has

just endorsed kamala harris, writing on x" with our democracy at stake and future on the line, nobody 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." his endorsement joins ben shapiro. she wrote on x, myjob in the election will remain the same, doing everything i can to elect democrats and stop donald trump. that is what she had to say. we go to nomia iqbal, who has been tracking development in washington. thank you. it has been quite a last few hours with fast developments. kamala harris managing some endorsements. that is where the story will be going forward —

can she get enough support behind her?— can she get enough support behind her? , . ., ., , behind her? yes, we are already seeinu behind her? yes, we are already seeing many _ behind her? yes, we are already seeing many coming _ behind her? yes, we are already seeing many coming out - behind her? yes, we are already seeing many coming out to - seeing many coming out to endorse her, but she doesn't automatically get the nomination. she has said that more or less in her statement that she will work to earn it. but she has also made the point that the election is a little over 100 days away and i think thatis over 100 days away and i think that is an indication that she wants people to unify behind a candidate for the democratic party. the democratic national convention, which is when they officially confirm who the nominee is, is only next month, so there is assigned to the democrats to really coalesce around someone. the last few weeks they have been in disarray. evidently presidential debate in june where — presidential debate injune where — would change everything forjoe biden, there has been somewhat scrutiny on the democratic party. the republicans have just wrapped up republicans have just wrapped up their republican national convention and all the by donald trump. the cows of the

democratic party has been to their advantage. the democrats all want to try to hurry the process up and get behind one candidate, which at the moment seems to be kamala harris. ., _, _ ., , harris. how copycat it does that make _ harris. how copycat it does that make it _ harris. how copycat it does that make it for _ harris. how copycat it does that make it for the - harris. how copycat it does - that make it for the democrats, considering where just four months away from the american elections, and a lot has changed? —— how difficult does it make it. it changed? -- how difficult does it make it— it make it. it is complicated but not impossible. - it make it. it is complicated but not impossible. i- it make it. it is complicated but not impossible. i thinkl but not impossible. i think this is why you are seeing so many members of the democratic party come out to stand behind kamala harris. interestingly the former president, president 0bama, a democratic party elder who is using factual and shall that make who is hugely influential, he didn't explicitly endorsed kamala harris. —— democratic party elder who is hugely influential. at the convention, people get together and sort of

nominate, and during the convention. that is really interesting that that has been his position. there will be other members of the party who will probably want an open convention as well. and that is seen by others is pretty chaotic. they will want to get behind someone in time for the convention, and i think it will be a matter of maybe days and the rest of the week where we will start to see where that process is going. but, yes, at the moment, kamala harris, as vice president, bear in mind, she is a history as the first female vice president, the first black vice president, and she could be on the cusp of history once again, if she does indeed get the nomination. we saw what donald trump posted on truth social, just from that aspect, what does this mean for his campaign, now?— his campaign, now? welcome i think the republicans -

his campaign, now? welcome i think the republicans will - his campaign, now? welcome i think the republicans will look| think the republicans will look at this as a bit of a wildcard for them. they knew what they were getting withjoe biden. when i was at the republican national convention, nearly every republican i spoke to was happy at the idea of donald trump facing joe biden. they felt it was no competition. that donald trump was going to wipe the floor with mr biden ltd mr biden had, you know, following the debate, he had really sort of hindered his ability to convince the american public to serve anotherfour american public to serve another four years. american public to serve anotherfour years. the american public to serve another four years. the polls showed that donald trump was beating him, especially in battleground states. you will get republicans who say they'd don't forget matter do they put forward, they will beat them, and many are saying that, recent polls suggest that kamala paris is behind donald trump is to make if there was a theoretical matchup. —— kamala harris is behind donald trump,

if there was a theoretical matchup. but donald trump is never faced matchup. but donald trump is neverfaced kamala harris. he has been on truth social boasting his comments, announcing he doesn't want to — she is laying the groundwork to say that the presidential debate over an excellent due to happen in september, shouldn't go ahead, unless done by another network. he is also criticising the democratic party because the republican party, if you think about it, they spent the last week at the convention attacking joe biden. that was their opponent another don't know who their opponent is. i don't know who their opponent is. ., , , . ., don't know who their opponent is. i appreciate you breaking that down — is. i appreciate you breaking that down for _ is. i appreciate you breaking that down for us. _ is. i appreciate you breaking that down for us. thank - is. i appreciate you breaking that down for us. thank you | is. i appreciate you breaking i that down for us. thank you for your time and thoughts. let's try to get some more analysis on what lies ahead with a professor of political science at the university of massachusetts and herds, who researches political parties, elections, and campaign finance. he is also a pollster. thank you for your time here on bbc news. you had earlier said in a conversation that this was

inevitable, with the pressure that was building up against joe biden. but he had been pushing back rather openly against the idea of stepping aside for quite a while. 0ne against the idea of stepping aside for quite a while. one in your opinion do you think really pushed him to finally take that decision? obviously he is proud. _ take that decision? obviously he is proud, he _ take that decision? obviously he is proud, he has _ take that decision? obviously he is proud, he has worked . he is proud, he has worked hard, and feels he deserves it, but the pressure brought to bear by the top are aquatic leaders including people like nancy pelosi and other members of the senate who are leaders, once you start to lose the support of key figures in your party like that, game over. he is smart enough as a politician to know there is handwriting on the wall. in to know there is handwriting on the wall. , ., ., ., ., the wall. in terms of kamala harris who — the wall. in terms of kamala harris who he _ the wall. in terms of kamala harris who he has _ the wall. in terms of kamala harris who he has endorsed | the wall. in terms of kamala . harris who he has endorsed and who has managed to get some endorsements as we have been reporting so far, but there is still some certainly about what is likely to happen, given the polls about kamala harris, do the likelihood of her getting more democrats or enough democrats rallying behind her? —— there is still some

uncertainty. -- there is still some uncertainty.— -- there is still some uncertainty. -- there is still some uncertain .,, , ~ , ., uncertainty. she is likely to be the nominee. _ uncertainty. she is likely to be the nominee. it - uncertainty. she is likely to be the nominee. it would i uncertainty. she is likely to | be the nominee. it would be difficult for there to be a really contested primary. the democrats want to unify as much as possible. the fact that biden endorsed her is a very strong signal and you have already seen the big players who might have been in the nomination, like governor newsome, stepping back and supporting it. battery tells me that they are coming together, which is a good sign for the democrats. an open convention is very challenging. they haven't done it since 1968. i5 haven't done it since 1968. is that still a possibility in terms of a scenario, and, if so, who could the other potential possible candidates because make— potential possible candidates because make well, it is or is possible- _ because make well, it is or is possible. you _ because make well, it is or is possible. you know, - because make well, it is or is possible. you know, the - possible. you know, the democrats are caught in this tension. they want legitimacy of having some type of contest, but they want to unify. and so maybe there might be an open convention but i think they will try to wrap that up fairly quickly. you'll start seeing a

cascade of nominations in support of vice president harris, i'm pretty sure of that. i harris, i'm pretty sure of that. ., ., ., harris, i'm pretty sure of that. ., ., , that. i asked nomia iqbal 'ust a moment�* that. i asked nomia iqbal 'ust a moment ago, i that. i asked nomia iqbal 'ust a moment ago, how i that. i asked nomia iqbal 'ust a moment ago, how do h that. i asked nomia iqbaljust a moment ago, how do you . that. i asked nomia iqbaljust. a moment ago, how do you think the republicans are viewing these developments? welcome i have to exaect — these developments? welcome i have to expect that _ these developments? welcome i have to expect that they - these developments? welcome i have to expect that they are - have to expect that they are now amending their campaign sheds. their theme wasjoe biden is too old, he is decrepit, and now they have to say, now do donald trump is the one that looks old. they will have to read figure this. they convention presented this kind of masculine, must go image that might not play very well with middle—class women in some of the swing districts. —— macho image. the contrast is with a younger woman, vice president harris, who is very pro— abortion. so they need to be a little worried about that. but given the polls about kamala harris lagging behind, how would you say in terms of a candidate, how strong in terms

of objects is that going to be when you see donald trump versus kamala harris? well, look, the — versus kamala harris? well, look, the election _ versus kamala harris? well, look, the election will- versus kamala harris? well, look, the election will be - versus kamala harris? well, | look, the election will be very closed. the united states, the electrodes are divided, even with biden in the area was separated. he was starting to go down. she is going to replace him, you would see tremendous movement. it will be a test of whether she can campaign, if she is the nominee. most americans, she is the vice president — most americans don't pay attention to the vice president. so she will have to reintroduce herself to an electorate. and that will be the test right there. can she gain support? can she get those younger voters thatjoe biden wasn't getting, while still holding onto the older voters that were very popular forjoe biden? onto the older voters that were very popularforjoe biden? gill very popular forjoe biden? all riaht, very popular forjoe biden? all right, we will leave there. ray la raja, thank you for your thoughts on bbc news. we will get you more reactions as well on this story. kamala harris, as we have been saying, is

receiving endorsements from other big names in the democratic party. former president bill clinton and former secretary of state hillary clinton said that they joined millions of americans and thinking president biden for all he has accomplished, standing upfor for all he has accomplished, standing up for america time and time again. but former president barack 0bama stopped short of endorsing ms harris in his statement, saying "we will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead, but i have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges. i believe that joe biden�*s vision of a generous, prosperous and united america provides an opportunity for abnormal be on full display at the democratic convention in august" is what barack 0bama had to say. one of the first democratic senators to react to the news was senator richard blumenthal of connecticut. let's listen to what he said. i was deeply moved by the

president's powerful and poignant statement which was truly courageous and visionary. president biden has been one of the greatest, most courageous, and consequential presidents of american history and he has helped to cement his legacy of leadership and vision with this decision. let's be very clear — this decision was selfless and strong. he put the country first, which is something that donald trump is never done. joe biden acted today in the interests of america, putting the nation's well being above his own, perhaps, and that is

something that i will always respect. something that i will always resect. ~ ., ., ., respect. we have heard from olitical respect. we have heard from political players _ respect. we have heard from political players as _ respect. we have heard from political players as well - respect. we have heard from political players as well as i political players as well as analysts, but many people have also gathered outside the white house on this historical moment. let's listen to what they have to say.— they have to say. i'm an executive _ they have to say. i'm an executive director - they have to say. i'm an executive director of. they have to say. i'm an executive director of an | executive director of an organisation. i know women can lead. absolutely. i will support her. if she is the nominee. i wonder if she would be chosen and if she isn't, does she still get access to the money, as she is the vice presidential nominee? i don't know, i think the party needs to think about who can successfully when and is this country, to put it bluntly, is this country ready to elect a black woman to be president over a convicted felon? having

some youth — over a convicted felon? having some youth would _