ARLINGTON, Virginia – President Joe Biden’s announcement that he was ending his reelection campaign spread quickly across the country on Sunday as Americans grappled with the historic news.
In a letter to the nation posted on social media, Biden touted his efforts on the economy, health care and other issues.
“Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life,” Biden wrote. “While I intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and our country for me to step down and focus on the duties of my presidency for the remainder of my term.”
Doubts have been growing in recent weeks about whether Biden is fit to serve a second term as the oldest sitting president after his disastrous debate defeat against former President Donald Trump. Biden, 81, bowed to growing pressure from Democrats to withdraw and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in a separate statement about X.
Nicole McCullough, 41, a licensed counselor in Arlington, said she wasn’t surprised. A Democrat, Ms. McCullough said Biden’s decision was “the right move” for the country.
“I think Kamala is extremely qualified to be a presidential candidate,” McCullough, 41, told USA Today. “I think she’s ready to lead the American people.”
Jen Walton, a Colorado-based storm chaser, posted to X that she wanted an “unprecedented vacation,” adding that it would be “literally like living in a methamphetamine lab 24/7.”
Walton told USA Today that he will support whoever the Democratic nominee ultimately is.
“I find it extremely confusing that the Republican platform is all about loosening restrictions and ‘don’t trample on me,’ slowly stripping away women’s right to choose what to do with their bodies and marginalized groups’ right to live the life they want,” Walton said. “I, like every other American, am free to live my life the way I choose, and no one has the right to tell me otherwise. Period.”
Joe Biden Drops Out of 2024 Election:Democrats were urging him to resign.
“Finally, some courageous action from politicians.”
Peter Reilly, an actuary in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, said he was “sad” but that Biden made the right decision.
“He’s always been a consummate politician and correctly understood that this was what was best for the country,” said Reilly, 61. “I hope that his actions in his senate career, where he put politics above doing the right thing for the country, will help mitigate the damage in some way. Finally, a brave act of statesmanship has occurred.”
In Biden’s home state of Delaware, Judith Gupton Wiley, a retired teacher and longtime Democrat, said she just hoped Biden “made this decision because he thought it was the right thing to do, not because he felt pressured.”
Some, like Jennifer Dillon of Alameda, California, who runs a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged youth, had no doubt about Biden’s exclusion.
“I am disgusted and shocked that the party has bowed down to its billionaire rulers and ignored the voters who chose Biden,” she said. “They’ve done Biden a disservice.”
Texas pastor: Biden is honest but wrong
Robert Jeffress, a Trump supporter and senior pastor at the 14,000-member megachurch First Baptist Church in Dallas, described Biden as “a leader of integrity who has been misguided about leading the country.”
Jeffress is an influential evangelical Christian who was one of the speakers at the ceremony when President Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in 2018. He told Biden that he prays for God’s protection in all areas of his life and wishes Donald Trump every success as he becomes the next president.
Who will replace Biden?Kamala Harris is the front-runner for the time being
The focus should be on Trump’s “criminal record and lies”
Vince Birge, 56, a San Francisco native, said Americans “are entitled to a better choice,” but added that he wished Harris had been more involved over the past four years.
“I think it was foolish to sideline her,” Birge said. “We could have seen her become more presidential in the last year and a half, but we’ll see how it goes. I liked her as a senator and I liked her as attorney general.”
San Francisco venue manager John Micheletos thought people might line up behind Harris: “I can’t imagine Biden supporters wouldn’t support Harris, but can she get the marginal voters? I believe she can get enough of them. Look at his criminal record, his lies and his fascist Project 2025.”
In heavily Democratic San Francisco, Biden’s decision sparked a flurry of reactions, ranging from frustration that Democrats had failed to predict the 81-year-old president’s slowdown to relief that Biden could step aside and make way for Harris.
“Personally, I’m happy that Kamala Harris is the nominee, but I think they need to find a white man for the vice presidential position quickly,” said Susan Powers, 72, of Denver, who was visiting San Francisco.
Republican activists praise Biden’s decision
In Utah, Republican activist Becky Edwards, a former Utah state legislator who now runs a political action committee that supports Republicans who support a positive, constructive campaign, said she hopes other candidates can learn from Biden’s decision.
“This incident serves as a reminder that the best interests of the people must always come before personal political ambition,” she said. “I hope it inspires future candidates to focus on unity and constructive dialogue.”
He’s “fully supportive” of Kamala Harris, but what about her donors?
Alicia Coulter, 46, of Los Angeles, who told USA Today last month that she supported the Biden-Harris ticket despite the president’s harsh criticism after the debate, said Sunday she would firmly support Harris if she were to run for president again.
“I fully support her. I understand people have concerns that she won’t be elected because she’s a Black woman, but I have complete confidence that she can perform the duties of president of the United States,” said Coulter, CEO of a nonprofit that helps organizations with DEI strategies and creates safe spaces for Black women. “Can she lead? Yes, she can.”
“Black women are the Democratic Party’s base. We are likely to be an important proxy for the new candidate. If the Democratic Party ignores her, it will be harder for us to consider another candidate.”
King Kaufman, a former journalist and now musician known as King Teen in Durham, North Carolina, called Biden’s withdrawal from the race “avoidable suicide for the Democratic Party.”
“Obviously, big donors don’t want Harris,” Kaufman added, pointing to racism as the reason. “But I think we can all unite in the idea that there’s no better way to consign Donald Trump to the dustbin of history than for him to lose to a Black and Indian woman who is the daughter of immigrants and an interracial marriage.”
Expressions of sadness and disappointment
Speaking at Mount Vernon, his estate just outside the town named for George Washington, Chris Atkinson expressed disappointment that Biden had pulled out. “I was hoping it wouldn’t happen, but he’s made his decision and we need to support whoever the ultimate nominee is.”
“I wish him the best,” Christine Awad, an artist and art teacher from Mukilteo, Washington, wrote on social media. In a series of brief comments, she called the incident “sad” and “discrimination due to age and speech impediment.”
Two female presidents in North America? It could happen.
Sylvia de la Cruz, 66, was on her way to visit a sick relative in Mexico, where voters recently elected Claudia Scheinbaum as the country’s first female president. De la Cruz said she thought Harris was “well prepared” and would be voting for her.
If Harris wins the Democratic nomination and the election, North America will have two female presidents.
“Is North America ready for that?” she asked. “I think women make very good decisions and I think we’ve come a long way.”
“Great personality,” but still lacking in power
Chicago resident George Velazquez, 60, said he was relieved by Biden’s decision and how it would affect gun violence in Chicago, an issue that is most important to him.
“Maybe it’s OK now, but I don’t think it can survive another four years,” said Velasquez, a veteran gang violence prevention activist. “He’s a great person of character. We need someone at the top who will advocate for law enforcement.”
Velazquez declined to say whether he would support Trump or someone running instead of Biden.
“I feel like there should be a third option.”
Vitaly Bondarenko, 30, a Ukrainian-born U.S. citizen, said Biden’s withdrawal was “clearly the right choice.” “He supports Ukraine, but it’s not good for the United States. I don’t remember what I did yesterday,” Bondarenko said during a walk with his family through Chicago’s Ukrainian Village on Sunday. But he doesn’t like Harris, and while he tends to prefer Trump, he wasn’t sure he could trust the former president to ensure peace in his country without ceding too much territory to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I feel there should be a third option,” he said. “Whoever supports Ukraine, we support them.”
Contributors: Megan Smith, Terry Collins, Elizabeth Wise, Lauren Villagran, Michael Loria, Mark Ramirez
