Barack Obama offered a heartfelt thank you to President Joe Biden for his years of service and applauded his decision to drop out of the race though he stopped short of endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee.

Joe Biden has been one of Americas most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, weve also been reminded again that hes a patriot of the highest order, wrote Obama, who won the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections with Biden as his running mate.

The former president applauded the Biden administrations accomplishments, including passing landmark legislation on gun safety and climate change, creating jobs, restoring Americas standing in the world, and guiding the country out of the chaos, falsehood, and division that had characterized Donald Trump s administration.

That track record, he continued, gave Biden every right to run for re-election and finish the job he started, so his decision to drop out was surely a difficult one, Obama continued.