Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the race for the White House
America’s stars are reacting to the news that the US president, Joe Biden, will drop out of the race for the White House.
Biden will finish his term but will not seek re-election. The US heads to the polls in November 2024 – with the new president taking office in January 2025. The 81-year-old president has backed his VP to run as the Democratic nominee. Polling suggests it looks set Kamala Harris will face Donald Trump in November.
Biden had been facing calls to step down for several weeks following a disastrous TV debate which left voters concerned over the president’s age and mental abilities. A string of high-profile gaffes followed and the president’s polling numbers dipped.
Hollywood is reacting to the news with relief – many believe Harris will be able to beat Donald Trump in November.
‘Hope and unity for America’
Just before the announcement from Biden, West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin argued in a New York Times opinion piece that the Democrats should select Republican Mitt Romney to defeat former president Donald Trump in November, as “a clear and powerful demonstration” about “stopping a deranged man from taking power”.
But as soon as Biden announced he would not seek re-election, Sorkin retracted the idea and endorsed Harris, who has already launched her campaign for the White House.
“I take it all back. Harris for America!” Sorkin said in a statement shared by West Wing actor star Joshua Malina on X and confirmed by Sorkin’s agent.
Actor Robert De Niro told the Hill that he felt “respect, admiration, and affection” for Biden for his decision.
“In an act of shrewd politics and selfless patriotism, Joe Biden is stepping aside to clear the path for another Democrat to become president … because there is nothing more important for our country than defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box,” he said in his statement. “With respect, admiration, and affection, thank you Mr. President!”
Barbra Streisand wrote on X that “we should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.”
Jon Stewart, who previously criticised Biden’s reluctance to consider dropping out, reacted with a single word: “Legend.”
Documentary film-maker Ken Burns said Biden “will go down as one of the great ones”.
“History recognizes actions that are bigger than self … having led the country out of the disastrous term of his predecessor and quietly doing good things for all Americans, red state as well as blue, accomplishments that put him up there, in terms of legislative action, with LBJ and FDR. Joe, I can’t imagine where we’d be without your selfless service,” he wrote on X.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who visited Biden in the Oval Office in May, thanked him and said he had “a record of accomplishments unmatched by any president in our lifetime” and had “restored honesty, dignity and integrity to the office after four years of lies, crime, scandal and chaos”.
Comedian Kathy Griffin, who received death threats for her criticism of Trump, wrote: “Let’s make history!!!! Finally”
Star Trek actor George Takei called Biden “a decent honorable man, a hugely successful president, and a patriot” and called for people to “unite behind” Harris in order to defeat Trump.
Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, who recently criticised Biden for staying in the race, praised Biden’s decision on Sunday as a “courageous and selfless act”.
Cher, who had just tweeted that she didn’t believe the Democrats could win without Biden moments before, wrote: “DEM PARTY MUST ‘REALLY,’ ‘REALLY’ THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. ‘WINNING IS ALL’, DONT WIN CANT CHANGE ANYTHING & THE TIMES THEY MUST BE A CHANGIN.”Jamie Lee Curtis said she “wholeheartedly” supported Biden’s decision and endorsed Harris’s bid, writing on Instagram: “She is trusted and tested and she is a fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of color and her message is one of hope and unity for America at her time of great national divide.”