In a highly anticipated Oval Office address tonight, President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race for a second term as president. This comes after pressure from the Democratic Party, which led to his withdrawal from the presidential campaign on Sunday. The remarks made by President Biden mark his first public appearance since stepping away from the race. Listeners can tune in to live coverage of the address on NPR's website.

Shortly after Biden's announcement, Vice President Kamala Harris received an endorsement to run for president. Biden addressed his former campaign team via telephone on Monday, assuring them that despite the change at the top of the ticket, the mission remains the same. It didn't take long for Harris to gain enough support from Democratic National Convention delegates nationwide, paving the way for her to become the party's nominee. On August 7, the Democratic Party will hold a virtual roll call vote to officially select their nominee.

After a few days in isolation at his residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden returned to the White House on Tuesday. During his time in isolation, he made the decision to withdraw as the presumptive Democratic nominee after testing positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas. However, his symptoms have since resolved, and a rapid test came back negative, as confirmed by his doctor in a memo from the White House.

While Harris takes over the campaign trail, President Biden still has a busy schedule in Washington. Following his address tonight, he will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Thursday. The two leaders are expected to meet with the families of Americans held hostage by Hamas. Additionally, Biden plans to travel to Austin, Texas, on Monday for an event at the LBJ Library.

Though Biden's decision to withdraw from the race has surprised many, his endorsement of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee highlights his commitment to completing his mission for the American people. As the race for the presidency unfolds, all eyes will be on Harris as she carries the torch forward in the Democratic bid for the White House.