A flurry of Democrats celebrated President Joe Biden after he said on Sunday that he would be ending his re-election campaign.
The announcement came as some of these same allies reportedly pressed Biden, 81, to bow out after his fumbling debate performance late last month spurred unease about his apparent decline and electability.
Biden also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, however, she may not ultimately get the nod.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in a post to X that Biden is a “patriotic American who has always put our country first.”
Biden’s “legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history,” she continued.
President Joe Biden is 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.
With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of…
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 21, 2024
“With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment,” Pelosi added.
“God blessed America with Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness,” she concluded.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Biden “has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he’s a truly amazing human being.”
The decision to drop out “of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American,” Schumer added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he's 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.
Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 21, 2024
California Governor Gavin Newson, who is widely viewed as a top contender to replace Biden on the presidential ticket, lauded Biden in a post to X.
“President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans,” Newsom said.
“He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents,” Newsom said, before concluding with, “Thank you, @Joe Biden.”
President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.
Thank you, @JoeBiden. https://t.co/HMUMEB1fTl
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 21, 2024
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, another leading 2024 prospect, praised Biden as a “great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump.”
After listing some of Biden’s accomplishments, Whitmer said her “job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump.”
President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over…
— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 21, 2024
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called Biden “one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history” and touted what he did in one term.
“America is a better place today because President Biden has led us with intellect, grace, and dignity,” he added. “We are forever grateful.”
My statement on President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. pic.twitter.com/FyHiIn51Kz
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 21, 2024
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election, also released a statement touting Biden’s record of service.
“By any measure, he has advanced our founders’ charge to build a more perfect union and his own stated goal of restoring the soul of our nation,” they said.
Bill and Hillary Clinton also immediately endorsed Harris, unlike some of the other Democrats mentioned in this article.
Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton pic.twitter.com/R7tYMFWbsu
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) July 21, 2024
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) released a statement in response to Biden ending his 2024 bid, touching on the process to pick the party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
“In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” the DNC said.
It added, “This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”