Democrats successfully pressured President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race amid threats from donors to withhold donations if he did not step down. Key Democratic allies such as George Clooney and Congressional Democrats wrote letters urging Biden to suspend his campaign, and on Sunday, he announced his decision to do so. After Biden’s exit, Democratic lawmakers praised him for his “selflessness” and likened him to George Washington, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms before term limits were established.
House Democratic Caucus vice chair Ted Lieu praised Biden for “preserving democracy” and putting country first with his decision to suspend his campaign. He expressed confidence that Biden would be remembered as one of the best presidents in American history. Similarly, House Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar and Rep. Dean Phillips compared Biden’s actions to those of Washington, emphasizing his role as a beacon of hope and patriotism.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed as his successor, hailed his legacy of accomplishment and unmatched service during her first address following his departure from the race. Despite initially criticizing Biden’s age during the primary, Rep. Dean Phillips referenced a scene from “Hamilton” that depicted Washington’s decision to give up power in support of Biden’s exit from the race. However, Republicans pushed back against the narrative of Biden as a hero, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arguing that Biden had no choice but to step down due to the pressure he faced.
Former President Donald Trump criticized the portrayal of Biden as a hero and emphasized that he was essentially forced out of the race by the Democratic Party. He referred to Biden as the “Worst President in the History of the United States” and highlighted the influence of the Radical Left in shaping the narrative around his exit. Republicans also raised concerns about the lack of voter input in the selection of Harris as the likely Democratic nominee, with Sen. JD Vance calling her a “threat to democracy.” Speaker Mike Johnson echoed these sentiments, pointing out that Democratic National Convention delegates, rather than voters, will determine the nominee.
Despite the controversy surrounding Biden’s exit and the subsequent rise of Harris as the likely Democratic nominee, the focus remains on the implications for the upcoming election. With the Democratic Party pushing Biden out and aligning behind Harris, questions arise about the fairness of the selection process and the impact on voter representation. As the race continues to unfold, both Democrats and Republicans are navigating the fallout of Biden’s decision and the subsequent reorganization of the Democratic field.
