Leading Democrats were quick to hail Joe Biden’s legacy on Sunday after the US president’s historic decision to end his reelection bid, while Republicans angrily called for his prompt resignation.
From former presidents to current lawmakers, Biden’s party faithful rallied around him as he passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, endorsing her to take on Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, former president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton said they “join millions of American in thanking President Biden for all that he accomplished.”
They too threw their weight behind Harris to be the Democratic nominee to face the Republican former president in November.
“Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it,” the Clintons said.
Barack Obama, who picked then-senator Biden as his running mate in 2008, called him a “patriot of the highest order,” but warned of “uncharted waters in the days ahead” — and stopped short of endorsing Harris.
“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” the former US leader said in a statement.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who still wields immense influence among Democratic lawmakers and had reportedly been pushing for Biden’s exit, called him “a patriotic American who has always put our country first.”
“His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history,” the California representative said in a statement, expressing her “love and gratitude” to him.
Biden was also hailed by the two top Democratic leaders in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who both held private meetings with Biden last weekend.
“President Joe Biden is one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history,” Jeffries said in a statement.
Schumer meanwhile said Biden “has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being.”
“His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,” the senator from New York said.
Neither statement mentioned Harris or the path ahead for Democrats, who have their nominating convention scheduled in less than a month.
Republican leaders, including Trump, slammed Biden’s presidency and called for the 81-year-old to resign before the end of his term in January.
“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was! … We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted on his Truth Social network shortly after Biden’s announcement.
House Speaker Mike Johnson meanwhile said that “if Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president.”
“He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough,” he said in a statement.
