Biden Exits 2024 Race, Endorses Harris: Global Leaders React to Historic Decision Amidst Political Upheaval

Messages of appreciation and solidarity for U.S. President Joe Biden surged following his unexpected announcement on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. This marked the second major political upheaval in the U.S. in just over a week, coming on the heels of the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, which saw international leaders rallying around him as the Republican nominee.

Biden’s decision to exit the race came after intense pressure, largely fueled by his poor performance in the CNN presidential debate last month. On Sunday, Biden confirmed his stance to remain a one-term president, triggering a wave of tributes from global allies who expressed their gratitude for his leadership.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently met with Biden in Washington, expressed his respect for the president’s choice and anticipation for continued collaboration throughout his remaining term. Starmer stated on X, “I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Biden as a “true friend” to Canada, highlighting his dedication and love for his country. “He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country,” Trudeau wrote on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that Biden deserved acknowledgment for “once again not putting himself forward first, but giving his first consideration to being what he believes is in the interests of the United States of America, as he has done his whole public life.” Albanese continued, “President Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also paid tribute to Biden, noting on X, “President Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lauded Biden for his “unwavering support” amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky stated on X, “Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. We will always be thankful for President Biden’s leadership.”

In contrast, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed that Moscow was “not too surprised” by Biden’s withdrawal. Peskov told reporters, “In recent years, what has been happening in the United States has taught us not to be surprised by anything.” He added, “This topic should concern American voters, but not us,” emphasizing the importance of Russian-American relations, which are currently at a historic low.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel will remain “an irreplaceable ally” of the U.S. regardless of the election outcome. Speaking from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport before heading to the U.S., Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Biden “for the things he did for the state of Israel, both in the war and during his years of service as a senator, as vice president and as president.”

President Isaac Herzog labeled Biden as a “true ally of the Jewish people,” and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised Biden’s “steadfast backing, especially during the war,” in posts on X. Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel’s actions in Gaza following Hamas’ attacks on October 7 but has faced criticism from Netanyahu over humanitarian aid and civilian casualties.

Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris described Biden as “a proud American with an Irish soul,” appreciating his “global leadership” and “friendship.”

Other leaders commended Biden for his challenging decision to withdraw from the race. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X, “My friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot: for his country, for Europe, for the world. His decision not to run again deserves respect.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro praised Biden’s “correct” choice to prioritize his family and health, wishing him “health and a long life” during a rally on Sunday.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged Biden’s difficult decisions, noting on X that these choices have contributed to a safer world and stronger democracy. “I know you were driven by the same motivations when announcing your final decision. Probably the most difficult one,” Tusk wrote.

South Korean and Japanese leaders opted not to comment on the internal U.S. political situation but emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with the White House. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida noted, “I recognize that President Biden’s decision is based on his desire to make the best possible political decision. The Japan-US alliance is the cornerstone of our nation’s diplomatic security, and we will continue to monitor it closely.”

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office stated that they will “continue to work closely with the US to further develop the South Korea-US global comprehensive strategic alliance.”

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. described Biden’s withdrawal as a sign of “genuine statesmanship” and thanked him for his unwavering support for the Philippines amid a challenging period. “We thank him for his constant and unwavering support for the Philippines in a delicate and difficult time,” Marcos wrote on X. The Philippines, a treaty ally of the U.S., has faced increasing tensions with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping had not issued an official statement by Monday morning. However, “Biden dropping out of the election” was the leading topic on Weibo, China’s equivalent to X, with related discussions, including those about Kamala Harris and Trump’s assassination attempt, accumulating over 400 million views.

Chinese social media users speculated eagerly about the prospect of a female U.S. president while others believed Trump would win regardless of the Democratic candidate. One Weibo user remarked, “The shot was definitely a good deal for Trump!” Another user observed, “That one shot didn’t kill Trump but dropped Biden,” with another describing the U.S. political situation as “a total mess.”

House Democrat Lloyd Doggett and Others Urge Biden to Step Down as Democratic Presidential Nominee

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) made headlines as the first House Democrat to publicly urge President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic presidential nominee, highlighting the growing concern within the party over Biden’s debate performance. Doggett’s call reflects the internal party anxiety now spilling into the public sphere.

“President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump,” Doggett stated. “I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies.”

Doggett emphasized his belief in Biden’s commitment to the country, contrasting it with Trump’s self-serving nature. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so,” he added.

Adam Frisch, a Democratic candidate running in Rep. Lauren Boebert’s (R-Colo.) 3rd Congressional District in Colorado, echoed Doggett’s sentiments shortly after. Frisch, who narrowly lost to Boebert in 2022, called for Biden to exit the race as well.

“We deserve better. President Biden should do what’s best for the country and withdraw from the race,” Frisch said. “I thank President Biden for his years of service, but the path ahead requires a new generation of leadership to take our country forward.”

Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) also weighed in earlier that day, publishing an opinion piece advocating for Vice President Kamala Harris to be positioned as the Democratic presidential nominee.

While these views do not represent the majority of the party—at least not publicly—there is a noticeable shift in tone among some Democrats, diverging from the unified front presented by Democratic leadership and Biden’s campaign team.

“It’s a familiar story: Following Thursday night’s debate, the beltway class is counting Joe Biden out. The data in the battleground states, though, tells a different story,” Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley stated in a Saturday memo.

“On every metric that matters, data shows it did nothing to change the American people’s perception. Our supporters are more fired up than ever, and Donald Trump only reminded voters of why they fired him four years ago and failed to expand his appeal beyond his MAGA base,” she added.

Public polls conducted after the debate have done little to alleviate Democratic concerns about Biden’s performance affecting his chances in battleground and traditionally blue-leaning states. A Saint Anselm College poll released on Monday showed Trump narrowly leading Biden 44 percent to 42 percent in New Hampshire, within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percent.

Meanwhile, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll released on Tuesday indicated Trump at 41 percent and Biden at 38 percent, also within the survey’s 3.1 percentage point margin of error.

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