Hollywood has reacted with gratitude and relief to the news that US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the presidential race, having largely remained silent in recent weeks with only a handful of celebrities calling for him to step down.
Just hours before Biden announced he was ending his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, “The West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin said in a New York Times opinion piece that Democrats should Trump cast the choice of Republican Mitt Romney to defeat former President Donald Trump in November as “a clear and powerful demonstration” to “prevent an insane man from seizing power.”
But once Biden revealed he was dropping out of the race, Sorkin backed away from the idea in favor of Harris, who has already launched a bid for the White House.
“I take it all back. Harris for America!” Sorkin said in a statement shared by the “West Wing” actor-star Joshua Malina x And it was confirmed by Sorkin’s agent.
Biden’s decision was widely praised among outspoken supporters of the Democratic Party. Robert De Niro, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and the narrator of one of Biden’s campaign ads, told The Hill he had “respect, admiration and affection” for Biden’s decision.
“In an act of savvy politics and selfless patriotism, Joe Biden is stepping aside to clear the way for another Democrat to become president… because Nothing is more important to our country than defeating Donald Trump At the ballot box,” he said in a statement. “With respect, admiration and love, thank you Mr. President!”
barbra streisand write on X “We should be grateful for his defense of our democracy.”
Talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart has previously criticized Biden for being unwilling to consider withdrawing. Reacted in one sentence: “Legendary.”
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said Biden “will go down in history as one of the greats.”
“History recognizes an act greater than self… that led the country out of his predecessor’s disastrous tenure and quietly did good things for all Americans, red states and blue states alike, accomplishments that put him at the top of the list for legislative action. . Joe, I can’t imagine where we would be without your selfless service,” he wrote on the X.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill visited Biden in the Oval Office in May, where he thanked him and said Said he had “This is a record of accomplishments unmatched by any president in our lifetime” and “restoring honesty, dignity and integrity to the office after four years of lies, crime, scandal and chaos.”
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Star Wars actor George Takei called Biden “a decent man, a very successful president and a patriot” and called on people to “unite” behind Harris to defeat Trump general.
Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, who recently criticized Biden’s continued candidacy, praised Biden’s decision on Sunday as a “courageous and selfless move.”
Cher just tweeted that she doesn’t believe the Democrats can win without Biden, writing: “Democrats have to ‘really’, ‘really’ think outside the box. ‘Winning is everything,’ not winning” Nothing can be changed, times must change.
Jamie Lee Curtis said she “wholeheartedly” supports Biden’s decision and endorses Harris’ candidacy, writing on Instagram: “Trusted and tested, she is a fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of color , her message is one of American hope and unity.
Sunday’s outpouring of support was a marked shift in recent sentiment, with only a handful of Hollywood’s biggest names publicly calling for Biden to drop out of the race.
Just weeks after a fundraiser for Biden’s reelection campaign, George Clooney wrote a New York Times op-ed calling for him to quit, arguing that the party should pick a new nominee.
He wrote that the process would be “messy” but would “awaken” voters who support the party.
Michael Douglas backed Cloney’s sentiments and said he was “very, very concerned” about Biden’s prospects after his performance in a televised debate against Trump was widely criticized.
Douglas, who hosted a Hollywood fundraiser for the president in April, told The View: “It’s a very tough event. I adore this guy…I’m not necessarily worried about today or tomorrow, but I’m worried about it One year later. I worry.
