US President Joe Biden will address the nation from the White House on Wednesday night to explain his historic decision to step aside as the Democratic candidate in this November’s election.
The Oval Office address marks his first public remarks since the 21 July announcement, which paved the way for Vice-President Kamala Harris to become the presumptive nominee.
Mr Biden is also expected to lay out his plans to “finish the job for the American people” before the end of his term in January next year.
Ms Harris, who earlier this week secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, has already received an endorsement from the current president.
In the first 36 hours after Sunday’s announcement that he was quitting the race, the fledgling Harris campaign raised more than $100 (£77m) – a record-breaking sum.
Mr Biden will speak at 20:00 local time (01:00 BST) on Wednesday.
The 81-year-old’s decision has upended an already dramatic race for the White House, and his exit followed weeks of pressure from top Democrats and donors in the wake of his disastrous performance against the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump late last month.
Speaking at a news briefing at the White House on Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Mr Biden had “no regrets” and was “proud” of his decision, showing “how honorable this president is”.
“What we saw from the president the last couple of days is what we have seen from him over the last several decades,” Ms Jean-Pierre said. “Human decency. Patriotism. A good man who puts the American people ahead of himself.”
Ms Jean-Pierre added that Mr Biden’s choice was “not about his health”, but declined to give further details, telling Americans that he will outline his reasons “directly” in his remarks.
Many top Democrats praised Mr Biden’s decision to step away from the race, including his former boss, Barack Obama.
“Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me,” Mr Obama said in a statement. “We’ve also been reminded – again – that he’s a patriot of the highest order.”
Ms Harris, for her part, has already begun campaigning. On Tuesday, she addressed a crowd of about 3,000 in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
She lauded Mr Biden’s decades-long “legacy of accomplishment”, adding that it has “been one of the great honours of my life” to serve under him.
“In one term… he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms in office,” she said. “I know we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his continuing service to our nation.”
Trump told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that the decision was “a shock to the country”, adding that Mr Biden “shouldn’t have been our president”.
Some Republicans have called for Mr Biden to step down as president, arguing that he cannot run the country if he cannot run for office.
Mr Biden has vowed to stay in the White House until the end of his term.
On Thursday, Mr Biden is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, as well as with the families of US hostages still being held in Gaza.
