Following President Biden’s announcement just months before the November election that he would not seek reelection, Democratic politicians lavished praise on the president and predicted great things for him.
“President Biden has been an extraordinary, historic president. A leader who 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. Thank you @JoeBiden,” California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, wrote to X just minutes after the revelation.
President Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Lynn Siebel Newsom wave to a crowd during a campaign rally in the gubernatorial recall special election, September 13, 2021, in Long Beach, California. (David McNew/Getty Images)
Newsom has been speculated for about a year as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2024, despite repeatedly denying the idea. He is one of Biden’s most visible surrogates on the campaign trail, and has been promoting him after Biden’s lackluster performance in last month’s debate.
With Biden’s campaign halted, what’s next for Democrats?
“Joe Biden is not only a great president and a great legislative leader, he is also a truly incredible human being,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement. “His decision was certainly not an easy one, but he has once again put our country, our party and our future first.”
“Joe, today proves you are a true patriot and a great American,” he added.
From debate debacle to resignation: Biden’s path to retirement
President Biden spoke at a press conference on the final day of the NATO summit in Washington on July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
Schumer was aware of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana,’s decision last week to call on Biden to back down and had told him to do what he thought was best, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, another Democrat at the center of presidential speculation, was one of the first to respond. “President Biden is a great public servant and knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump. History will remember him for the great job he’s done to lower prescription drug costs, fix our terrible roads, bring supply chains back home, address climate change and ensure decades of American global leadership,” Whitmer said on X.
Biden withdraws from 2024 rematch with Trump, ends bid for second term in White House
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 4, 2023 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
“My job in this election remains the same: to get Democrats elected and do everything in my power to stop convicted felon Donald Trump, whose agenda will raise costs for families, ban abortion across the country, and abuse the power of the White House to settle scores for himself,” Whitmer wrote.
Biden announced his campaign halt in a letter sent to X on Sunday afternoon.
“Serving as your President has been the greatest honor of my life,” the president wrote. “While I intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and our country to step aside from office for the remainder of my term and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency.”
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also praised him, saying he “always puts country first.”
“Now Democrats must unite behind the candidate who can defeat Donald Trump and get America back on track, and I will do everything in my power to support that effort,” he said.
“In less than one term, he has led the country through a once-in-a-century pandemic, catapulted the economy back from the brink of recession, enacted critical legislation for ordinary Americans and defeated an insurrectionist leader to save our democracy,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said in a statement.
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His decision came just weeks after his widely criticized debate performance with Trump, after a total of 37 Democrats and their allies called on Biden to step down in the days that followed.
Following the announcement, Biden posted a second time endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
