Joe Biden quits 2024 US election as it happened: President Biden backs VP Kamala Harris as Trump hits out at 'unfit' leader

Earlier we introduced you to the Democratic Kentucky Governor who first won the governorship in 2019 and was re-elected last year. 

Andy Beshear, has endorsed the vice president on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

“The vice president is smart and strong, which will make her a good president,” he said. “But she’s also kind and has empathy, which can make her a great president.”

Asked about signing on as Harris' number two, he said “The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believed I could further help my people and to help this country."

There are some big names absent from Kamala Harris' list of endorsers, including President Barack Obama and ex-House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

It's been widely reported that Obama and Pelosi are avoiding an endorsement to avoid the appearance of a coronation. 

Michael Yaki, a former senior adviser to Ms Pelosi, told Sky News he believed the silence from Pelosi is deliberate to avoid being seen as "kingmakers" for Harris.

"I think they're backing off and letting the grassroots, the delegations, the other leaders... come out in favour of her because then it looks much more organic. It doesn't look top down, it doesn't look like it was staged," he said.

Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are said to want an open convention with more of a contest, according to reports.

This afternoon, Kamala Harris will make her first public appearance since Joe Biden endorsed her as the Democratic nominee. 

She's scheduled to speak with the women and men's National Collegiate Athletic Association championship teams at the White House.

We'll update you on any important moments from the speech this afternoon.

Andy Beshear, the Democrat governor of red state Kentucky, had endorsed Kamala Harris. 

Beshear was seen as a potential replacement for Joe Biden but told MSNBC that Kamala Harris has his full support. He contrasted Trump, 'who spews anger,' with Kamala Harris who is a 'unifier':

Partisanship is now everywhere. From the car you drive to the beer you drink, you’re supposed to pick a side, and we just can’t continue that. And that’s why I think that the vice-president can give a compelling message about being better for me, that’s certainly about my faith, and it’s about living my faith and caring about absolutely everyone.

And so, this election, especially with the contrast of such a divisive figure like former president Trump, who spews anger, that we can create a contrast that hopefully not only wins this election, but moves us past all this craziness we’ve been living in.

Vice President Kamala Harris has worked quickly to shore up support from Democratic delegates in her efforts to become president.

She spent much of Sunday surrounded by family and staff, making more than 100 calls to Democratic officials to line up their support for her candidacy, according to a source.

Here are some of the high-profile endorsements Kamala Harris has garnered in the last 24 hours.

She quickly won endorsements from the leadership of several influential caucuses and political organisations, including the AAPI Victory Fund, which focuses on Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, the Collective PAC, focused on building black political power, and the Latino Victory Fund, as well as the heads of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the entire Congressional Black Caucus.

A handful of men who had already been discussed as potential running mates for Ms Harris — Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper and Arizona senator Mark Kelly — swiftly issued statements endorsing her.

The Democratic National Convention's rules committee, which decides when and how the party chooses its next nominees, announced it will meet at 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday.

Sir Keir Starmer also said “of course” the US is still a reliable and trusted ally.

Asked whether the country was still a dependable partner, the Prime Minister said: “It has been for many, many years, and you could see that in the Nato counsel just 10 days or so ago.”

He said the strong “resolve” of Nato on display over issues like Ukraine at the recent summit was “direct evidence of the reliability of that partnership.”

Sir Keir Starmer declined to comment on his relationship with Kamala Harris, vowing to work with whoever wins the election in November.

He said that the Democratic Party will choose their nominee, and the American people will decide their president.

"We will respect the U.S. democratic process and work with whomever is elected. The special relationship between our countries, forged in challenging times, remains vital," he added.

Sir Keir Starmer said Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election would not have been an easy one for the US President. 

 Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, the Prime Minister said: "I respect that decision that he has now made. 

 "Not an easy decision, but a decision that I know that he will have arrived at taking into account the best interests of the American people, and I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency."

Many Democratic voters have expressed relief at the news that Joe Biden is dropping his re-election bid and are beginning to think about who might replace him.

Jerod Keene, a 40-year-old athletic trainer from swing-state Arizona, had planned to vote for Mr Biden in November but was thankful for the president’s decision, calling it “inevitable”.

“Kamala Harris is the easiest pick based on the fact that she’s vice president and it would be tough for the party to try to go a different direction on that,” said Mr Keene, who lives in Tucson. “And I think she seems ready.”

In Pittsburgh, Fred Johnston said he was terrified of another Trump presidency and had long worried that Mr Biden could not beat the Republican again. He was eager for the president to drop out and hand his candidacy to Ms Harris.

“Kamala is someone we can vote for, and that’s what we need,” Mr Johnston said.

He also thinks she can win Pennsylvania: “I have no logical basis for this, but it’s good to have hope. I haven’t had hope for a while.”

In Las Vegas, Lucy Ouano, 68, said she was proud of Mr Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and his move to quickly endorse Ms Harris.

“He’s ending on a great note,” she said. “Trump should be worried. He’s now running against someone strong.”