Update: Biden says he exited US presidential race to ‘save democracy’

US President Joe Biden has told Americans in a televised address that he decided to end his faltering re-election campaign in a bid to save US democracy.

Mr Biden, 81, said he felt his record as president “merited a second term” but that “nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy”.

He said he endorsed US Vice-President Kamala Harris to unite their fellow Democrats and the country.

The White House speech marked his first public appearance since he exited the race on 21 July, paving the way for Ms Harris to run for the party’s nomination.

The Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, meanwhile, said at a rally that Ms Harris was a “radical left lunatic”.

Opinion polls so far indicate a tight race between the former president and Ms Harris in a hypothetical match-up.

In his address on Wednesday night, Mr Biden spoke for 11 minutes from the Oval Office, with his wife, Jill, son, Hunter, and daughter, Ashley, in the room alongside some key White House staff.

“I revere this office,” he said. “But I love my country more.”