former president trump says he believes mr biden was pressured out of the race and "shouldn't have "been our president." hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm tadhg enright. joe biden has pulled out of the race for the white house less than four months before voters in the us go to the polls. mr biden said it was in the best interest of his party and the country not to run. he's faced weeks of pressure to step aside following a faltering performance in a tv debate with donald trump last month. the us vice president, kamala harris, is already rallying support among democrats and said she would "earn and win" the democratic nomination. here's our north america

editor sarah smith. just four days ago, joe biden was out campaigning for his re—election, greeting voters in nevada. in the days since, he's made the hardest decision of his lengthy political career — to withdraw as the democratic residential candidate. writing on social media: catching covid was the final nail in his political coffin. calls for him to step aside just kept coming, from democrats who were worried he was on course to lose the election to donald trump. who has just enjoyed a very successful because he accepted his party's nomination. today, he said:

so cogilljoe biden�*s number two, vice president kamala harris, step into first place now is the presidential candidate? not automatically, but he has already given her his backing. ms harris says she aims to "own and win the nomination" and wants to unite the democratic party and the nation to defeat donald trump. hillary clinton edged outjoe biden for the party's nomination in 2016 and then went on to lose the election. today, both of the clintons and so they are formally supporting kamala harris. ~ ., . harris. welcome to the white house, everybody. _ harris. welcome to the white house, everybody. joe - harris. welcome to the white house, everybody. joe biden| house, everybody. joe biden will have _ house, everybody. joe biden will have served _ house, everybody. joe biden will have served 12 _ house, everybody. joe biden will have served 12 years - house, everybody. joe biden will have served 12 years in l will have served 12 years in the white house altogether, eight as vice president of barack 0bama, fourand eight as vice president of barack 0bama, four and the oval office himself. mr 0bama today 0ffice himself. mr 0bama today called him one of america's consequential presidents and a peter ridd of the highest order. —— patriot. sarah smith, bbc news.

let's speak to our correspondent in washington, david willis. david, it's still early days, obviously, how certain do you think we can be that it will be kamala harris facing off against donald trump? well, all the indications _ against donald trump? well, all the indications are, _ against donald trump? well, all the indications are, and - against donald trump? well, all the indications are, and it - against donald trump? well, all the indications are, and it is - the indications are, and it is as you mentioned their very early days, but party members, democratic party members, are starting to coalesce around kamala harris as their presidential nominee. now, it is possible — there has been talk — of a vote, a vote by computer, if you like, what they are calling a virtual rollcall early next month ahead of the democratic national convention which takes place in chicago in one month's time in order to head off any possibility of some sort of messy scrap at the last minute on the convention floor and we

haven't seen that sort of thing, and open convention, since 1968, when lyndon b. johnson pulled out of the nomination, but that was in march and that's three months earlier thanjoe biden is earlier than joe biden is withdrawing. earlier thanjoe biden is withdrawing. so, all of the science, though, are that kamala harris is often quite a good start in of garnering support for her candidacy and that this will be hers to lose now. ., , ., now. indeed. clearly, though, keen to have _ now. indeed. clearly, though, keen to have a _ now. indeed. clearly, though, keen to have a confirmed - keen to have a confirmed nominee in position as soon as possible. joe biden, though, david, as late as saturday night was insisting he would remain in the race. that had all changed by sunday afternoon local time. all changed by sunday afternoon localtime. have all changed by sunday afternoon local time. have we any further insight into what or even who changed his mind?— insight into what or even who changed his mind? well, do you know what? _ changed his mind? well, do you know what? had _ changed his mind? well, do you know what? had been _ changed his mind? well, do you know what? had been that - know what? had been that constant pressure, hadn't there, over the past three

weeks since his disappointing performance in that presidential debate. more than three dozen members of congress, democratic members of congress, democratic members of congress, had called onjoe biden to withdraw from the race but we didn't see this coming. we didn't see the announcement coming on a sunday afternoon, shortly before two o'clock, and the word is thatjoe biden was still deliberating about this as late as last night, saturday night. apparently instructed his aides to draft this letter, the letter that was later published on the x social media platform, but was still deliberating about it and went into discussions with his inner circle. he has a very tight inner circle. also members of his family. and after talking it through with them this morning, apparently, he decided that he would withdraw from this race. now, i'm told, he was in communication with kamala harris throughout all of

this but that she didn't actually know that he had taken the decision to pull out until just a very short while, possibly evenjust just a very short while, possibly even just minutes, before that announcement went out on the x platform.— out on the x platform. david willis in washington, - out on the x platform. david willis in washington, thankl out on the x platform. david i willis in washington, thank you very much. it's in the swing states that presidential races are won and lost, so what do voters there make of joe biden�*s decision? the bbc�*s gary 0'donoghue is in the swing state of michigan getting reaction. in no doubt that it's places like michigan, places like pennsylvania, places like wisconsin, georgia and arizona where the decision will be made about who is the next president. now, joe biden has been slipping in these swing states in respect of donald trump. he has been edging behind him by two, three, four percentage points. and it's not clear at this stage that a kamala harris candidacy would do any better. indeed, one recent poll in whittington had

kamala harris doing worse than joe biden up against donald trump. but in the last few weeks, i've been speaking to democratic voters here and gauging their reaction tojoe biden�*s decision. i gauging their reaction to joe biden's decision.— biden's decision. i was secretly _ biden's decision. i was secretly hoping - biden's decision. i was secretly hoping that i biden's decision. i was| secretly hoping that he biden's decision. i was - secretly hoping that he would drop out. ijust think secretly hoping that he would drop out. i just think there are so many other more qualified people. i are so many other more qualified people.- qualified people. i think an one qualified people. i think anyone that's _ qualified people. i think anyone that's working i qualified people. i think- anyone that's working needs to know_ anyone that's working needs to know when the time has come and it's time _ know when the time has come and it's time to — know when the time has come and it's time to move on and let someone _ it's time to move on and let someone else have a chance, so it's another_ someone else have a chance, so it's another opportunity.- it's another opportunity. yeah, it's another opportunity. yeah, it doesn't _ it's another opportunity. yeah, it doesn't give _ it's another opportunity. yeah, it doesn't give us _ it's another opportunity. yeah, it doesn't give us much - it's another opportunity. yeah, it doesn't give us much time i it's another opportunity. yeah, j it doesn't give us much time to actually— it doesn't give us much time to actually choose _ it doesn't give us much time to actually choose a _ it doesn't give us much time to actually choose a proper- actually choose a proper candidate. _ actually choose a proper candidate. there - actually choose a proper candidate. there are - actually choose a proper candidate. there are so| actually choose a proper- candidate. there are so many other— candidate. there are so many other better _ candidate. there are so many other better people _ candidate. there are so many other better people out - candidate. there are so many other better people out there j other better people out there but because _ other better people out there but because we _ other better people out there but because we have - other better people out there but because we have very- other better people out there | but because we have very few months — but because we have very few months left, _ but because we have very few months left, it's _ but because we have very few months left, it's very - months left, it's very frustrating. - months left, it's very frustrating.— months left, it's very frustratina. �* , frustrating. and time here is the crucial — frustrating. and time here is the crucial factor. _ frustrating. and time here is the crucialfactor. i- frustrating. and time here is the crucial factor. i was - the crucial factor. i was speaking to one senior local democrat, who said he hoped for a really smooth transition to a kamala harris candidacy, but he also said the problem is you put five democrats in a room and you get six different opinions. so, don't be

surprised if this is not a smooth process to a nominee for the democratic party. gary 0'donoghue in michigan. world leaders have been paying tribute to president biden since news emerged of his decision to drop out of the presidential race. here in the uk, the prime minister keir starmer said: the german chancellor 0laf scholz described president biden as: he went on to say his decision not to run again deserves respect. president zelensky said ukraine is grateful to president biden for his unwavering support for ukraine's fight for freedom, and says: the canadian prime minister justin trudeau described president biden as:

let's speak to political analyst eric ham. hejoins me now on he joins me now on the hejoins me now on the line. the republicans were beginning to think, as late as last week i think, that victory in november was a sure thing. what do you think they are thinking now? i do you think they are thinking now? ~ , . ~ now? i think they are thinking that victory — now? i think they are thinking that victory is _ now? i think they are thinking that victory is still _ now? i think they are thinking that victory is still a _ now? i think they are thinking that victory is still a sure - that victory is still a sure thing because now, democrats have given up their greatest asset, and that is incumbency. and now, this gives the republicans and even clearer pathway to victory in november. it's been quite a couple of weeks in us politics. i know you did not think this moment would come. you thoughtjoe biden would stay in the race. some people feel it was inevitable. what do you think it was that changed his mind? i

think we saw the pressure of large donors continue to not only way on the president but also weigh on the entire party, and when donors decide that they are going to make decisions based on their pocketbook, i think it became clear to president biden that it was too much in order for him to stay in the race because he was now becoming a drag on the ticket and, of course, we know down ballot races, democrats controlling, maintaining control of the senate and also in an effort to retake the house of representatives became just too much and president biden decided to step out of the way so that the party could have a much better glide path and those very wealthy and influential donors would begin to open up their checkbox again, which now we see that they are. again, which now we see that the are. again, which now we see that they are-— again, which now we see that the are. ., ., they are. so, what about those swin: they are. so, what about those swing states. _ they are. so, what about those swing states, what _ they are. so, what about those swing states, what about - they are. so, what about those j swing states, what about those floating voters? do you think

that those people who are not committed, necessarily, one way or the other could be won over by kamala harris over donald trump? i by kamala harris over donald trum - ? ~ , by kamala harris over donald trum? ~ , , , trump? i think this is still very much _ trump? i think this is still very much a _ trump? i think this is still very much a trade-off. i trump? i think this is still| very much a trade-off. we trump? i think this is still - very much a trade-off. we have very much a trade—off. we have to remember president biden backin to remember president biden back in 2020 one the election with more votes than any other presidential candidate in history with 81 million. now, the entire country, the electorate, now sees that this was a man who clearly was pushed out of his position and some of those joe pushed out of his position and some of thosejoe biden supporters, they could be disaffected by what they see, and i think it could be debilitating and damaging for the entirety of the party going forward. 0r, the entirety of the party going forward. or, if there is a way to somehow bridge this gap, then i think the party could be in a position to be competitive in a position to be competitive in november. but right now, this is all, i think, still a very fluid situation and while

there does appear to be some momentum for, harris, it's still not clear that she will still not clear that she will still be the nominee —— momentum for kamala harris. eric ham. still lots more coverage to come on president biden's decision to drop out of the race. we will take a pause for a moment. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are welcome back. returning now to our top story, the decision by president biden to withdraw from the us presidential race. his deputy, kamala harris, says she was "honoured" to be endorsed byjoe biden and will now "earn and win this nomination". kamala harris was the first woman and the first black person to serve as california's attorney general. she gained a reputation as one of the democratic party's rising stars after being elected as a senator in california in 2017.

after becoming vice president in 2021, she's focused on several key policies, including abortion rights, and has called on congress to restore the protections of roe v wade. let's speak tojill habig, a former deputy campaign manager for kamala harris. she was also an advisor when kamala harris was attorney general. a pleasure to have you on bbc news, jill. quite a moment for kamala harris and, i suppose, considering joe biden's age was even a concern at the last election, this was always a stronger likelihood, wasn't it, thenit stronger likelihood, wasn't it, then it may have been for many other vice president?— other vice president? well, absolutely. _ other vice president? well, absolutely. i— other vice president? well, absolutely. i mean, - other vice president? well, | absolutely. i mean, kamala harris has stood by president biden throughout their first term in office. she has been an incredible partner to him. i think their administration has really shown a ton of leadership bringing the country back from covid. now, she is

really well poised to step in his shoes now that he has stepped out of the race. 50. stepped out of the race. so, what qualities _ stepped out of the race. so, what qualities do _ stepped out of the race. so, what qualities do you think make her the right person for thejob? make her the right person for the “ob? ~ ~ , the “ob? well, i think she has a the job? well, i think she has a really long _ the job? well, i think she has a really long record _ the job? well, i think she has a really long record of - a really long record of accomplishment to stand on, and when she was attorney general, she took on the largest banks in the country during the great recession, she won billions of dollars of relief for homeowners across the country who had been scammed. as vice president, she has been rallying the country around restoring reproductive freedom to her leadership on the world stage. she has met over 100 world leaders or 150 world leaders during her time as vice president, so i think she really brings a strong record of accomplishment. she has strong support from the democratic party, especially from the key basis of the party — women, black voters, etc are three and i think she has a path to victory, she really brings a lot of assets to this

ticket at an important time. and she impressed many when she exploded onto the national or international stage at the last presidential election, the first time any of us got to know her. the early days of her vice presidency were not seen as a major success. do you think there is a risk that could hold her back in this campaign?— could hold her back in this camaiun? ~ ~ . campaign? well, i think what i've campaign? well, i think what i've seen _ campaign? well, i think what i've seen from _ campaign? well, i think what i've seen from the _ campaign? well, i think what i've seen from the vice - i've seen from the vice president over the more than a decade that i have known her is that she does not let one or two setbacks. herfrom leaving. she is tough. she is not afraid of making tough decisions. she surrounds herself with good people and i think she will keep fighting. so, i think what we've seen from her, especially from the last year as she has really stepped onto the national stage in the battle over reproductive freedom and abortion rights, i think we have really seen the way that she can motivate not only the democratic party but really voters across the aisle for

really common sense values of freedom, liberty, affordability, you know, the kind of america that most people want. kind of america that most people want-— kind of america that most people want. and perhaps because we _ people want. and perhaps because we are _ people want. and perhaps because we are still - people want. and perhaps because we are still kind l people want. and perhaps | because we are still kind of reeling from joe biden's decision, we have not been focusing in as much as we ultimately will on the fact that she is a woman and she would be the first woman president if she were to win. what difference do you see that making in the campaign?- what difference do you see that making in the campaign? well, i think she is _ making in the campaign? well, i think she is going _ making in the campaign? well, i think she is going to _ making in the campaign? well, i think she is going to make - making in the campaign? well, i think she is going to make the l think she is going to make the case to voters, like any other candidate. she is no stranger to being the first woman and first woman of colour. she has beenin first woman of colour. she has been in most every single office that she is one. but she has really campaigned on the issues were voters and has campaigned as a former prosecutor in a lot of ways —— she has won. she brings that strong record of holding people accountable and a fighting for an america where everyone can actually thrive and so, i think she will actually be making the case to voters on kitchen table

issues like affordability of prescription drugs, like housing, abortion rights and voters will be able to make the decision based on her record. jill habig. former adviser and campaign managerfor former adviser and campaign manager for kamala former adviser and campaign managerfor kamala harris, manager for kamala harris, thank managerfor kamala harris, thank you forjoining us. still thank you for “oining us. still len thank you for “oining us. still plenty more — thank you forjoining us. still plenty more analysis on the latest developments to come here on bbc news. let's dive into the perspective of the wider democratic party now. joining me now from san diego is democratic strategist laura fink. laura, thank you forjoining us. firstly, how are you feeling aboutjoe biden's decision to withdraw? i feeling about joe biden's decision to withdraw? i thought it was a courageous _ decision to withdraw? i thought it was a courageous decision . decision to withdraw? i thought it was a courageous decision onj it was a courageous decision on his part. for a person empowered spent his entire career in public service to stand down is a momentous decision and a historic decision and a historic decision and a historic decision and so, i think recognising that injoe biden as he finishes an incredible career is something that we should all do. fist career is something that we should all do.— career is something that we

should all do. at this stage, i know it is _ should all do. at this stage, i know it is early _ should all do. at this stage, i know it is early days, - should all do. at this stage, i know it is early days, but - should all do. at this stage, i know it is early days, but it i know it is early days, but it does feel like kamala harris will be going forward. the other runners and riders, most of them have fallen in behind her already. of them have fallen in behind heralready. how of them have fallen in behind her already. how certain are you, though, that she is the woman who can win this presidential election? well, s - eakin . presidential election? well, speaking from _ presidential election? well, speaking from a _ presidential election? well, speaking from a campaign l speaking from a campaign perspective, a lot of times, it's about the moment and in this particular moment, the democratic party needs someone who can prosecute the case against donald trump. right now, we've seen an absence of that because joe now, we've seen an absence of that becausejoe biden has struggled. and so, with kamala harris, her prosecutorial background, her demonstrated ability to go toe to toe against people who would hide their agenda from the american people, she is able to ferret out. we saw her it with supreme courtjustice nominee brett kavanaugh and attorney general nomineejeff sessions. this is someone who understands the

importance of revealing the truth to the american people and, frankly, we witnessed an rnc last week where the policy agenda was undercover. vice president harris is going to be excellent at revealing that. talk about her demonstrated ability. the early days of her vice presidency did not go to plan. she was seen as floundering. at one point, she was asked about having visitors at the southern border to talk about the migrant crisis and said she had been debited turned out, she had not. do you see any of these issues coming up see any of these issues coming up against her in the campaign to follow? ~ , ., up against her in the campaign to follow?— up against her in the campaign to follow? ~ , ., ~ ., ., to follow? well, you know, one ofthe to follow? well, you know, one of the things — to follow? well, you know, one of the things i _ to follow? well, you know, one of the things i think _ to follow? well, you know, one of the things i think as - to follow? well, you know, one of the things i think as a - of the things i think as a communications strategist it was difficult for the price president was that she did not get a lot of exposure, we were all talking about isolated incidents, one of interviews and instead of continuing to put her out there, the administration kind of hold her back and so now, i see it will not be a problem, essentially because she has the practice. those really are sort of media

skills and not substantive issues, so i think you will see that those problems are behind her. laura fink. thank you forjoining us. the view from the other side of the aisle now. former president donald trump reacted on his social media platform truth social, saying: let's speak now to former republican strategist and partner at brunswick group, robert moran. thank you very much forjoining us. last week, for a whole

variety of reasons, it felt like the wind was behind donald trump and his campaign. how does this change things? well, it certainly _ does this change things? well, it certainly does _ does this change things? well, it certainly does change - it certainly does change things. we don't have a lot of data to guide us in this moment. i am a data person so i will only speak to the data here. we have is head match—ups between trump and harris but not that many in public polling. harris poll is slightly better than biden. but we really don't know. we're not going to get good data post all of this announcement until probably wednesday or thursday this week. my hunch, based on what we are seeing, is is that harris will have — will travel trump by about two, two .5 points. —— trail. she will do better with younger voters and better with younger voters and better with younger voters and

better with core democratic constituencies but worse with non— college educated white so it will be somewhat of a wash but net more positive, which is why the democratic party made the transition that they made. my the transition that they made. my theory is there's less downside with her. she will probably, at a certain mechanical level, turn out the democratic base. so, i think that's what we're looking at right now. and then, of course, we have to talk about what the data is in the states and that's coming in the next few days. that's coming in the next few da s. ., ., ., that's coming in the next few das. ., ., ., , days. you say you are a number man and — days. you say you are a number man and a _ days. you say you are a number man and a data _ days. you say you are a number man and a data man _ days. you say you are a number man and a data man and - days. you say you are a number man and a data man and one i man and a data man and one thing that is inescapable is that now, donald trump will be the oldest ever candidate to go forward to a presidential race. prone to his own verbal gas, it has to be said. one may imagine, some of the material has been using, and republicans have been using against biden will now be turned on him —— verbal gaffes. will now be turned on him -- verbal gaffes.— will now be turned on him -- verbal gaffes. likely, although the american _ verbal gaffes. likely, although the american public _ verbal gaffes. likely, although the american public is - verbal gaffes. likely, although the american public is now- the american public is now thought of a reduced to the trump show, i don't think there's anything you that will

be sort of knew for the american people in terms of the trump show. i would say though it's very clear that the trump campaign itself has pivoted very quickly to attacking the vice president. the ready dropped negative ads and this is the most important thing for the viewers to hear, which is we essentially have a race in the next two weeks to define the next two weeks to define the vice president harris, the democratic party will very quickly tried to fill in the blanks and help america understand who she is and her background, etc. you've heard some of that already. and the republicans are also going to try to fill in the blanks in a negative way, and they have already released negative ads and so, i think in reality, the next 2—3 weeks you are going to be very decisive inaudible. briefly, if you can, when you consider she is a woman and a woman of colour, and consider the allegations that are made against donald trump, to what

extent does that stark contrast between the candidates influence the race? yeah, so i think a place _ influence the race? yeah, so i think a place to _ influence the race? yeah, so i think a place to her _ influence the race? yeah, so i | think a place to her advantage. you heard other guests talk about this. my assumption is that she would be better at mechanically turning up the democratic base, both african—american voters and also younger white women, so i think she will net be better for turning those voters out, which should make it closer. the question is what does it look like in the states, and right now, if you take the big red inaudible of ohio, robert and texas and the other red states, trumpers ahead. robert moran. republican strategist, we will have to leave it. thanks for joining us on bbc news. hello. it looks like the second half ofjuly will continue to be much more in tune with summer weather than the first half ofjuly. it's going to feel quite warmer out there, when you get the sunshine — temperatures at or above average —

but this week, a more typical week, and there'll be a bit of a mix around. some rain, at times, particularly on monday and thursday, they're the greatest likelihood, but some longer drier spells, too. now, one of the wetter spells, said monday. it's these weather fronts pushing across the country, which gives a rather grey and misty, murky start to the day. patchy, light rain or drizzle for many, but some heavier bursts across scotland and the far north of england, first thing. many will brighten up, a scattering of showers will quickly rush across early afternoon, southern areas before some longer, drier spells later. further north will also see sunshine develop. lots of cloud in eastern scotland, best of sunshine in the west, but some slow—moving showers. not much of a breeze here. and where those showers do form in scotland, northern ireland, northern england, there's an outside chance of the odd rumble of thunder. but look at the temperatures in the afternoon with some sunshine —16—24 celsius. that's bang on target for this stage in the year. some of the heavier showers will last in eastern scotland into the first part of the night but through monday night into tuesday, cloud and patchy rain will push from ireland into wales,

central and southern england and, like monday morning, it will be a mild enough start today for many — coolest with clearer skies in northern scotland. but for tuesday, a ridge of high pressure starts before it does, though, we've just got this little kink in the isobars, a little trough linked to the weather front which will bring cloud and occasional showery bursts of rain, especially during the morning across parts of southern wales, central and southern england. the odd isolated shower elsewhere on tuesday but for most, it will be largely dry. best of the sunshine around northern and western coasts. we will see a bit of a breeze, so temperatures down a little bit on monday's values. a cooler night, then, to take us into wednesday but with that ridge of high pressure a bit more widespread, lighter winds, it will be a much more pleasant day. a few isolated showers can't be ruled out but a lot of dry and bright weather with some sunshine to begin with and then, clouds spilling in from the west. longer spells of sunshine for the afternoon in eastern areas — just one or two inland showers. it will feel warmer again. temperatures more widely into the 20s. as we go through wednesday night into thursday, though, this will probably be the wettest spell of the week with these weather fronts pushing across. not completely wet but there will be some patchy rain or drizzle around again

more widely on thursday. brighter on friday. turning warmer and drier through the weekend.

president biden pulls out of the run for the 2024 us elections. we'll look at the likely

market reaction. how viable are sustainable air fuels? we'll examine the potential for cleaner air travel as the farnborough air show begins. and, the rising cost of your cuppa. how extreme weather in india has affected the price of tea. live from london, this is business today. i'm tadhg enright. we begin in the usa, where, as you've heard, the run for the presidency has taken an unexpected turn, after presidentjoe biden has pulled out of the race, and instead endorsed his vice president kamala harris for thejob. the old saying goes, the markets hate uncertainty, and now the race looks more uncertain than ever. so what will investors make of it? joining me now is marc 0stwald, chief economist and global strategist at adm isi.