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After weeks of public and private hand-wringing among Democrats, President Joe Biden has announced that he will end his re-election bid and withdraw from the race. On Sunday afternoon, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket.
Biden’s announcement was met with a rash of statements from Democrats praising his leadership. It also set off a palpable wave of relief among many in the party, including those who feared that his staying on the ticket could jeopardize the party’s chances in down-ballot races.
“Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he’s a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posted to X.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called Biden “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,” she said in a statement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the president “one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history.”
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement acknowledging the difficulty of the decision that Biden faced. “For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life,” Obama wrote. “But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America. It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.”
Democratic governors also lauded Biden. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called him “a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked Biden, calling him an “extraordinary, history-making president.” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Biden’s decision “is in the best interest of our country, and our party.”
Several Democrats who had publicly called on Biden to step aside also issued statements praising the president’s decision. “Joe’s announcement today reflects what we’ve known all along: he is an American patriot who is willing to put America’s interests over his own,” Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the Senate, thanked Biden for his “years of committed service.”
Even progressives, who had stood by the president in the wake of the debate, expressed gratitude. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., thanked Biden, saying, "This was the president’s decision to make" and endorsed Harris. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, expressed much the same sentiments.
Later Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., pledged her "full support" to Harris and called on the country to "swiftly unite" to defeat Trump in November. Ocasio-Cortez was one of several progressive lawmakers to adamantly stand by Biden as pressure for him to drop out increased among Democrats. Ocasio-Cortez has warned of chaos within the party should he withdraw from the race
In a joint statement, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton celebrated Biden’s accomplishments, “with his North Star always being what’s best for the country.” They also endorsed Harris and said they “will do everything we can to support her.”
Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, continued to criticize Biden on a phone call with NBC News, saying, “He should never have been there in the first place. He should have stayed in his basement.” Trump — who had claimed he wanted to unite the country after his assassination attempt — also slammed Biden on Truth Social, writing in a post that he “was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., struck a conspiratorial tone, writing in a post on X that the “deep state” and the “elites in power” had started a “coup” against Biden that led to him stepping down from the Democratic ticket. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took a similar tack, claiming without evidence that the Democratic Party had “forced” Biden off the ballot, adding that Biden should resign from office “immediately.” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, also a Republican, accused Democrats of “rigging their own elections.”
Biden, whose political career has been marked by his ability to defy the odds, had pushed back hard against the calls for him to step aside after his June 27 debate with Trump. At times, he reportedly even lashed out at fellow Democrats.
Those calls quieted down briefly after last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump, but soon afterward they picked back up with greater urgency. Although Biden and his aides worked hard to quash concerns about his age and mental fitness, the pressure on him to resign — or the political calculus for his party — ultimately overcame his insistence.
First lady Jill Biden responded to Biden’s announcement on X with a hearts emoji.
Hunter Biden issued a statement lauding his father as a selfless leader, writing: “He is unique in public life today, in that there is no distance between Joe Biden the man and Joe Biden the public servant of the last 54 years.”
He added: “I’m so lucky every night I get to tell him I love him, and to thank him. I ask all Americans to join me tonight in doing the same.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.