Hollywood has reacted to the information that the US president, Joe Biden, is dropping out of the presidential election with gratitude and a sigh of reduction, having for essentially the most half stayed stumm in current weeks as just a few celebrities referred to as for him to step apart.
Simply hours earlier than Biden introduced he was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing the vice-president, Kamala Harris, West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin argued in a New York Instances opinion piece that the Democrats ought to choose 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”.
However as soon as Biden revealed he was dropping out of the race, Sorkin retracted the concept and endorsed Harris, who has already launched her marketing campaign for the White Home.
“I take it all back. Harris for America!” Sorkin mentioned in an announcement shared by West Wing actor star Joshua Malina on X and confirmed by Sorkin’s agent.
Amongst vocal Democrat supporters, Biden’s resolution was broadly praised. Robert De Niro, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and the narrator of considered one of Biden’s marketing campaign adverts, informed the Hill that he felt “respect, admiration, and affection” for Biden for his resolution.
“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 mentioned in his assertion. “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.”
Talkshow host and comic Jon Stewart, who beforehand criticised Biden’s reluctance to contemplate dropping out, reacted with a single phrase: “Legend.”
Documentary film-maker Ken Burns mentioned 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 within the Oval Workplace in Might, thanked him and mentioned 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”.
Comic Kathy Griffin, who obtained loss of life threats for her criticism of Trump, wrote: “Let’s make history!!!! Finally”
Star Trek actor George Takei referred to as Biden “a decent honorable man, a hugely successful president, and a patriot” and referred to as for individuals to “unite behind” Harris to be able to defeat Trump.
Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, who not too long ago criticised Biden for staying within the race, praised Biden’s resolution on Sunday as a “courageous and selfless act”.
Cher, who had simply tweeted that she didn’t consider the Democrats may win with out Biden moments earlier than, 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 mentioned she “wholeheartedly” supported Biden’s resolution 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.”
Sunday’s outpouring of help was a marked shift in current sentiment, with just a few high-profile Hollywood names having publicly referred to as for Biden to exit the race.
Simply weeks after headlining a fundraiser for Biden’s re-election marketing campaign, George Clooney wrote a New York Instances opinion piece calling for him to drop out, arguing that the get together ought to decide a brand new nominee.
The method can be “messy”, he wrote, however would “wake up” voters within the get together’s favour.
Michael Douglas supported Clooney’s view, saying he was “deeply, deeply concerned” about Biden’s prospects after his broadly panned efficiency within the televised debate towards Trump.
Douglas, who hosted a Hollywood fundraiser for the president in April, mentioned on the View: “This is such a tough one. I adore the guy … I don’t necessarily worry about today or tomorrow but a year down the line, I worry. I am concerned.”
