Biden, who dropped out of a 2024 presidential race against former President Trump due to concerns about his age and ability to run the country, was hailed Sunday by leading Democrats as a selfless hero.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), one of the most influential politicians urging Biden to step down, thanked the 81-year-old Biden for his decision, calling him “one of the most significant presidents in American history.”
“God has blessed America with the greatness and goodness of Joe Biden,” Pelosi said in a statement shortly after the announcement.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) also thanked Biden for his decision and praised his performance as president.
“Obviously, his decision was not easy, but he once again put our country, our party and our future first,” Schumer said in a statement Sunday. “Today, Joe, you proved you are a true patriot and a great American.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom said Biden “will go down in history as one of the most influential and selfless presidents,” while California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks called Biden “a politician who has put service before self.”
Biden's decision, meanwhile, infuriated Republicans who had rejoiced at his sagging approval ratings, with some calling on him to resign immediately and criticizing Sunday's announcement as invalidating the support of voters who elected him president three years ago.
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said. He said on social media platform X.
Biden's announcement ended weeks of speculation about his future that grew after concerns were raised about his performance in a key debate with Trump last month, when he stumbled to gather his thoughts live on air. With less than four months until Election Day, time is of the essence as a lack of unity within the Democratic Party threatens to further undermine the party's standing.
Biden on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in his place. Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton — quickly followed suit. But much remains unclear about Democrats' strategy in a historically volatile presidential campaign.
“We've been through many ups and downs, but nothing is more worrying to our country than the threat posed by Donald Trump's reelection,” the Clintons said in a joint statement Sunday. “Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight for her election with all our might. The future of America depends on it.”
Biden, the oldest president in history, said his decision not to seek reelection came amid growing pressure from about 40 Democrats and independents in Congress. Washington Post TrackerSen. Joe Manchin III, an independent from West Virginia, Latest Trump joined the call and said he was concerned about Biden's “health and well-being” hours before Biden's announcement.
Attention has focused on Biden's physical and mental fitness over the last week after he suspended campaign activities due to contracting COVID-19.
For prominent Democrats such as Rep. Adam B. Schiff, who last week called on Mr. Biden to drop out of the race, the decision came as a relief and energized the campaign to defeat Mr. Trump.
“President Joe Biden will leave office with a legacy unlike any other modern president,” said Schiff, of Burbank.
Former President Barack Obama, for whom Biden served as vice president, called Biden “the greatest patriot” and said he was “fully within his rights” to seek re-election but saw the risks of a Trump presidency as too great.
Obama said America owes Biden a debt of gratitude for defeating Trump in 2020 and for steering the country away from “four years of chaos, lies and division” under the Republican presidential nominee.
“It will certainly be one of the hardest decisions of his life as he looks at the political landscape and decides whether to hand the baton to a new candidate, but I know he wouldn't make this decision if he didn't believe it was right for America,” Obama said in a lengthy speech. statement“This is a testament to Joe Biden's patriotism and a historic example of a true public servant once again putting the interests of the American people above his own, one that future generations of leaders should emulate.”
But Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance of Ohio called Biden “the worst president I've ever lived with” and blasted Harris for aligning herself with him on immigration and other issues.
“She bears full responsibility for these failures, and for lying about Biden's mental capacity for nearly four years, smothering the American people with a president who is unable to carry out his job,” Vance said. “No matter who the Democratic nominee is, President Trump and I are ready to save America. Go for it.”
