The world has reacted to US President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election, with Israel’s prime minister leading the praise.
The 81-year-old stepped aside tonight after facing weeks of questions about his fitness to serve following his disastrous performance in the presidential debate that set off a series of gaffes from which he has been unable to recover.
His historic decision comes 24 days after the debate and after a 50-year career in politics that culminated with his rise to the White House.
Biden, a longtime supporter of Israel, was congratulated by the country’s prime minister.
Isaac Herzog said of Biden in a post on X: ‘I want to express my sincere gratitude to Joe Biden for his friendship and his steadfast support for the Israeli people throughout his decades-long career.
Isaac Herzog (pictured) said: ‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Joe Biden for his friendship and his steadfast support for the Israeli people’
The 81-year-old stepped aside tonight after facing weeks of questions about his fitness to serve.
Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris described Biden as a “voice of reason”
‘As the first US president to visit Israel in times of war, 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 unbreakable bond between our two peoples.
‘I send him, Jill Biden and their entire family my warmest wishes from Jerusalem.’
Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris described Biden as a “voice of reason.”
“On behalf of the people and Government of Ireland, I, as Taoiseach, would like to thank you, Mr President, for your global leadership and friendship in announcing that you will not be standing in the 2024 US presidential election,” he said.
‘The world has changed since President Biden’s victory in 2020 and we have had to face extraordinary challenges, from a global pandemic to the return of war to the European continent with Russia’s horrific full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has deliberately targeted and killed innocent civilians.
“President Biden has been a voice for reason, effective multilateralism, and shared solutions.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected earlier this month (pictured), said: “I respect President Biden’s decision”
Moments after his announcement, Biden posted an endorsement of Harris to take over his campaign on X.
Across the Irish Sea, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected earlier this month, said: “I respect President Biden’s decision and look forward to working together for the remainder of his presidency.
“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people.”
In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: ‘My friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot – for his country, for Europe and for the world.
“Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the United States is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves praise.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed Scholz’s sentiments, saying: ‘Mr President, you have often made difficult decisions that have made Poland, the United States and the world safer and democracy and freedom stronger.
I know that you were guided by the same principles when you announced your latest decision, perhaps the most difficult of your life.
President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, ending his re-election bid after a series of backlashes over his June 27 car crash debate performance against Donald Trump.
In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured, left) said: “My friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot – for his country, for Europe, for the world.”
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said: “This is undoubtedly the decision of a statesman who has served his country for decades. It is a responsible and personally difficult step, but it is even more valuable.”
‘I have my fingers crossed that a good president will emerge in the United States from the democratic competition between two strong and equal candidates.’
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere added: “I respect Joe Biden’s decision not to stand for re-election. That justification deserves respect,” Stoere told national broadcaster NRK.
‘Biden has been one of America’s most prominent politicians for several decades and a president who has implemented several important reforms.’
Biden’s international opponents also weighed in.
The Kremlin said it was monitoring developments after US President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 US election race, adding that “a lot can change” in the meantime.
Some speculate that California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could be chosen as Harris’ running mate.
“There are four months left until the elections. That’s a long time, during which a lot can change. We have to be vigilant, follow what will happen and continue our activities,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Life.ru.
Biden announced his surprise decision in a one-page letter in which he pledged to complete his term and soon after issued a follow-up tweet endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.
Democrats must now rush to shore up their campaign behind a new candidate less than four months before Election Day.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to his X account on Sunday.
“And while it has been my intention to seek re-election,” he continued, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step down and focus exclusively on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
The announcement came the same day that a number of Biden allies took to the airwaves to insist that the president would not resign and would continue his reelection efforts.
Biden said in his letter that he would speak in more detail about his decision in remarks to the nation later this week.
Last week, Biden was removed from the campaign trail after being diagnosed with COVID-19 for the third time in the middle of a West Coast tour. This led to even more speculation about his imminent withdrawal from the race.
