Kamala Harris: How leading politicians react to her candidacy

Joe Biden is out. At 1:46 p.m. Eastern time, the news of his withdrawal from the race for the White House spread around the world. “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country that I withdraw and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a statement on social media. Shortly afterwards, the 81-year-old spoke out in favor of his deputy Kamala Harris as his successor.

After that everything happened very quickly.

While his party colleagues heaped praise and respect on the president for his resignation, Democrats at all levels of leadership rallied behind Harris, hoping to put a month of chaos behind them once and for all.

On Sunday evening, it seems as if the vice president is well on his way to following in Biden’s footsteps. From Capitol Hill to Hollywood, Democrats are backing her. No other leading party members have yet announced plans to challenge the 59-year-old. And Biden’s campaign team has already officially renamed itself “Harris for President.”

“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party and our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris announced in a statement. “We have 107 days until Election Day. Together we will fight. And together we will win.”

Potential rivals support Kamala Harris

In a very short time, important party figures pledged their support to Harris. Among them were a number of influential governors who had themselves been considered as possible leading candidates in recent weeks.

“Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at risk and our future uncertain, there is no one better suited to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s grim vision and lead our country in a healthier direction than Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris,” wrote California Governor Gavin Newsom on Platform X, putting an end to rumors of his own candidacy.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also said he would do everything he could to support Harris. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper made similar comments.

Gretchen Whitmer, governor of the swing state Michigan, had already ruled out her candidacy. So far, however, she has refrained from directly supporting Harris.

Prominent Democrats praise Biden’s resignation

Dozens of prominent Democrats had previously welcomed Biden’s resignation and praised the incumbent president’s achievements.

The leader of the Democrats in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, praised Biden as a “true patriot” who “puts his country, his party and our future first.” Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, also praised Biden’s decision. “The legacy of his vision, his values ​​and his leadership make him one of the most important presidents in American history,” wrote Pelosi, who had previously increased pressure on Biden behind the scenes.

Former President Barack Obama, during whose administration Biden was Vice President, sees his resignation as proof of his “love of country” and calls him a “patriot of the first order”. At the same time, he warned his party colleagues: “We will be entering completely new territory in the coming days.” Neither Obama nor Pelosi have yet backed Harris as a successor.

Former presidential couple Bill and Hillary Clinton praised Biden’s “extraordinary career.” “We join millions of Americans in thanking President Joe Biden for all he has done.” The Clintons also spoke out in favor of Harris’ candidacy. “We will do everything we can to support her,” they said. “Nothing worries us more than the threat of a second Trump term.”

Republicans around Donald Trump rely on attack

It didn’t take long for Donald Trump to comment on the news from the White House.

“The corrupt Joe Biden was never able to run for president again – and just as incapable of holding the office,” wrote the 78-year-old on his network “Truth Social.” A short time later, he followed up in a second post: His campaign team had invested time and money in “the fight against the fraudulent Biden.” “Now we have to start all over again,” Trump said indignantly. He did not mention Harris once in the posts.

In return, his newly elected vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, is even harsher against Harris. “Joe Biden was the worst president of my lifetime, and Kamala Harris has been with him every step of the way,” Vance wrote on Platform X. He accused Harris of being partly responsible for Biden’s “open borders and green fraud policies” and claimed that the vice president had “lied about Biden’s mental capacity for nearly four years.” He and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are “ready to save America, no matter who leads the Democrats.”

Mike Johnson, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, called on Biden to resign immediately. “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, then he is not fit to hold the office of president,” Johnson wrote on X. “He must resign immediately.” Other Republican politicians such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senator Josh Hawley accused the Democrats of “rigging their own election.”

Hollywood thanks “legend”

In Hollywood, stars and starlets reacted with appreciation to Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. Barbra Streisand, an avowed Democrat, expressed her gratitude to the president “for upholding our democracy.”

Actor Mark Hamill, who became famous for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series, praised Biden’s record highly. “He has brought honesty, dignity and integrity back to the office after four years of lies, crimes, scandals and chaos.” Now it is the duty of patriotic Americans to vote for the Democrat who will honor and continue Biden’s legacy.

Talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart responded to Biden’s letter with just one word. “Legend,” he wrote.