President Joe Biden, apparently bowing to outside pressure, announced he was ending his reelection campaign less than a month after the uproar began following his poor performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt last Saturday.
“Serving as President has been the honor of my life. While I intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country to step aside for the remainder of my term and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency,” Biden wrote in the letter.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) July 21, 2024
The responses have been flooding in.
Some, including Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have called on Biden to step down from the presidency altogether.
“He is unfit to run for president and unfit to serve as president,” Sanders said. “Biden should resign immediately.”
He is ineligible to run for president and is ineligible to serve as president.
Biden should resign immediately.
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) July 21, 2024
“Once Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining in office? Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was correct all along that Biden is not mentally strong enough to serve as commander in chief. There is no middle ground,” Vance said, especially ahead of Biden’s announcement on Sunday.
If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify staying in the presidency?
Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was correct all along that Biden was not mentally qualified to be commander in chief.
There is no middle ground.
— JD Vance (@JDVance1) July 21, 2024
“The reason Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race is so the Democrats would cheat. If Biden wins, even if he cheats, it will no longer be believed,” said Liz Wheeler. “Now the Democrats will field a charismatic young ‘moderate’ candidate to cheat. Listen to me.”
The reason Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race is because the Democrats are going to cheat. With Biden in the race, it was no longer believable that he could win, even if he cheated. Now the Democrats will bring in a charismatic young “moderate” candidate to cheat. Listen to me.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) July 21, 2024
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, praised Biden, claiming he “will go down in history as one of the most influential and selfless presidents.”
President Biden has been an extraordinary, historic president, a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered incredible results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most influential and selfless presidents of all time.
thank you, @JoeBiden. https://t.co/HMUMEB1fTl
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 21, 2024
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado also praised Biden.
“We owe President Biden a debt that we will likely never be able to repay,” he said. “We don’t know what happens next, but by passing the baton to a new standard-bearer, President Biden has given us another chance to defeat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve.”
We owe President Biden a debt of gratitude that we will likely never be able to repay.
We may not know what happens next, but by passing the baton to a new standard-bearer, President Biden has given us another chance to defeat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve. pic.twitter.com/lc4JYMCWqy
— Michael Bennett (@SenatorBennet) July 21, 2024
But others say Biden’s decision is a clear testament to Trump’s strength.
“Have you ever seen a politician with the power and the talent to make your opponent give up mid-way through a campaign? I have Donald J. Trump,” said Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves.
Have you ever seen a politician so powerful and talented that he forced his opponent to quit mid-campaign?
I am Donald J. Trump
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) July 21, 2024
Other Republicans mocked Democrats.
“Now Democrats are rigging their own election,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri.
Now the Democrats are rigging their own elections.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 21, 2024
“Now that the inevitable has happened – Biden’s withdrawal – will the Democratic Party fall into disarray?” asked Sen. Rand Pough (R-Ky.).
Now that the inevitable has become reality — Biden’s departure — will the Democratic Party be engulfed in chaos?
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 21, 2024
“We are not fighting the candidates, we are fighting the system,” Vivek Ramaswami said, drawing other responses.
We’re not fighting the candidates, we’re fighting the system.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 21, 2024
Trump wins!
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) July 21, 2024
Someone should let Joe know that he’s decided not to run.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) July 21, 2024
BREAKING🚨🚨 Joe Biden has announced he will not run for reelection pic.twitter.com/omh30BvoMb
— Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody) (@MTGrepp) July 21, 2024
I respect President Biden’s decades of public service. I believe he made the right decision for his family and his country. These are dangerous and unprecedented times. He should be commended for putting country above personal ambition.
The only way out of this situation is…
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 21, 2024
It’s Kamala… https://t.co/Z11PZWPzcB
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) July 21, 2024
This story is unfolding.
