Barack Obama is one of the many politicians that is reacting to Joe Biden withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential race.
In a statement, Obama referred to Biden as “one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner.”
The 44th president commended Biden for his character and said that was one of the main reasons he selected him to be his vice president 16 years ago.
“When I began my search for a vice president, I knew about Joe’s remarkable career in public service,” Obama said. “But what I came to admire even more was his character – his deep empathy and hard-earned resilience; his fundamental decency and belief that everyone counts.”
Obama praised his former VP for displaying his character while Commander-in-Chief amid a turbulent time in American and world history.
“Since taking office, President Biden has displayed that character again and again…he helped end the pandemic, created millions of jobs, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, passed the first major piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years, made the biggest investment to address climate change in history and fought to ensure the rights of working people to organize for fair wages and benefits,” Obama said. “Internationally, he restored America’s standing in the world, revitalized NATO and mobilized the world to stand up against Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
He continued on to say that due to all of his accomplishments, Biden had “every right” to run for re-election and finish what he started.
“Joe understands better than anyone the stakes in this election – how everything he has fought for throughout his life, and everything that the Democratic Party stands for, will be at risk if we allow Donald Trump back in the White House and give Republicans control of Congress,” Obama stated. “I also know Joe has never backed down from a fight…for him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life.”
“But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America,” he added.
Obama did not go so far as to endorse a nominee for the Democratic Party; several government officials, including Biden himself, have endorsed current Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.
Other politicians, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, have released statements thanking President Biden for his service.
Former President Donald Trump also responded to Biden dropping out, but he was not as friendly, dubbing him the “worst president, by far.”