Pelosi praises Biden after dropping his campaign: ‘Always put our country first’

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called President Joe Biden a "patriotic American who has always put our country first" in the aftermath of the president's decision to not seek reelection.

Biden announced he would not continue his reelection campaign , after pressure from various leaders inside the Democratic Party, including Pelosi, per reports, to step aside following a disastrous debate in June. Pelosi issued a statement Sunday, calling Biden "one of the most consequential Presidents in American history."

President Joe Biden is a patriotic American who has always put our country first. His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history.

With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of…

“President Joe Biden is a patriotic American who has always put our country first.  His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history," Pelosi said. "With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment."

“God blessed America with Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness,” the former House speaker added.

While Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee in his place, Pelosi did not immediately endorse a replacement at the top of the ticket.

Pelosi, along with other Congressional Democratic leaders, had reportedly pressured Biden to step aside in recent weeks, as the president continued to fall behind former President Donald Trump in the polls nationally and in key battleground states. A report from Politico prior to Biden's decision claimed that the former House speaker favors an open nomination process rather than anointing Harris as the new nominee.

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Biden is the first incumbent to not seek a second term since then-President Lyndon Baines Johnson did so in 1968. After Johnson decided against running for a second term, his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, was the Democratic nominee, but lost to former Vice President Richard Nixon .

The uncertainty with the Democratic Party's ticket comes less than a month before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22.