Bernie Sanders will not run for president, endorses Biden bid for re-election: Report

Washington [US], April 26 : Senator Bernie Sanders, a former two-time presidential candidate, said on Tuesday he endorses President Biden's re-election bid, foregoing a third run for the White House, Fox News reported citing media reports.

Biden announced earlier in the day that he would be seeking a second term despite polls showing a majority of Americans, and Democrats, don't want him to run again, Fox News reported.

According to the report, Sanders said he would "do everything I can to see the president is reelected", warning against a victory by former President Trump or another Republican, Fox News reported.

"The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman's right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia," Sanders reportedly said. "So, I'm in to do what I can to make sure that the President is reelected."

Sanders predicted Biden would ultimately be the Democratic nominee on Election Day, saying he thought his job, and the job of the progressive movement, was "to make certain that [Biden] stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted."

Sanders, a socialist who has served in Congress for decades as a member of both the House and Senate, was the runner-up for the Democratic presidential nominations in both 2016 and 2020, and has commanded a large following among the progressive wing of the Democratic Party since entering the national stage, Fox News reported.

The 81-year-old will likely never run for president again, given his age, but said it was "a wonderful privilege" to have run when he did.