World leaders were quick to react to the long-awaited news that President Biden has decided not to run for a second term, news that came as a surprise to many despite reports over the past two weeks.
“I respect President Biden’s decision and look forward to us working together for the remainder of his term,” Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer, who was elected and appointed prime minister less than three weeks ago, wrote on the social media platform X.
“I know that, as he has done throughout his distinguished career, he will make decisions based on his convictions about what is best for the American people,” he added.
Biden released the statement around 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, but the decision appeared to be kept secret until he posted it online. Biden’s campaign staff reportedly was still prepared to continue campaigning into next week when they heard the news.
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But there have been reports that Biden’s decision to step aside is becoming more likely after major donors threatened to pull their support and more than 30 Democrats in Congress urged him to stand down and allow the party to field a new candidate.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrive for a joint press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on March 24, 2023 in Ottawa, Canada. (Mandel Gunn/AFP via Getty Images)
Former British Prime Minister and current Member of Parliament Rishi Sunak wrote, “In working with Joe Biden, I have seen firsthand his love for and dedication to serving America.”
“Our partnership has produced great results, including AUKUS, our unwavering support for Israel, and our joint efforts to protect our people from the Houthi threat,” Sunak wrote. “I wish him the best of luck.”
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And another former Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson, wrote that he “pays tribute to Joe Biden for the courage of his decision and all he has achieved as president.”
“Throughout his career he was a committed Atlanticist and friend of the UK and it was a privilege to work with him,” Johnson added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a message of thanks to Biden on X, writing: “We will always be grateful to President Biden for his leadership. He supported our country at one of the most dramatic moments in our history, helped stop Putin’s occupation of our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war.”
U.S. President Joe Biden (center) attended a working lunch with other G7 leaders to discuss shaping the global economy. Clockwise from left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (cover), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (cover), European Council President Charles Michel, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attend the first working session at Schloss Elmau in Elmau, Germany, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times, via Associated Press, Pool)
Besides the centrist Zelensky, Sunak and Johnson, other mainly left-leaning European and world leaders issued statements thanking Biden and praising his brave decision to withdraw from the election at his party’s urging.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Biden, thanking him for his “leadership and continued contributions” and praising the U.S.-Australia alliance, saying it has never been stronger “driven by our shared democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for current and future generations.”
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Biden a “great man,” adding that “everything he does is guided by his love of country.”
“As president, he has been a partner and true friend to the Canadian people,” Trudeau wrote to X. “To President Biden and the First Lady: Thank you.”
Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this week, but Israeli President Isaac Herzog was quick to speak out about X, writing, “I sincerely thank President Joe Biden for his friendship and unwavering support for the Israeli people throughout his decades-long career.”
“As the first U.S. president to visit Israel during wartime, as a recipient of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, he is a symbol of the inseparable bond between our two peoples,” Herzog wrote. “I send him, First Lady Jill Biden, and his entire family my heartfelt congratulations from Jerusalem.”
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that his “friend” Biden has “achieved a lot for our country, for Europe and for the world.”
“Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is closer, NATO is stronger, and the United States is a good and reliable partner for us,” Scholz wrote. “His decision not to run again deserves to be respected.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris issued a statement “on behalf of the people and government of Ireland”, a country where Biden has strong family ties and great respect. “I wish Mrs. Biden and her family every success and look forward to working with you for the remainder of your presidency,” he said.
“As I announce that I will not run for President of the United States in 2024, I want to thank the President for his global leadership and friendship,” Harris wrote.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote that he “expresses his deepest admiration and gratitude to President Joe Biden for his courageous and dignified decision.”
“Thanks to our resolve and leadership, the United States has weathered the post-pandemic economic crisis and the serious attack on the Capitol, as well as provided exemplary support to Ukraine in the face of Putin’s Russian aggression,” Sanchez wrote to X, according to a translation.
“It’s a great gesture from a great president who has always fought for democracy and freedom,” Sanchez added.
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Biden for taking “many difficult decisions” that have “made the world a safer place and our democracies stronger.”
“I know you were motivated by the same things when you announced your final decision,” Tusk wrote to X. “It was probably the hardest decision of my life.”
