On July 21, US President Joe Biden announced that he was withdrawing from the race for a second term in the White House. Biden's decision provoked the reactions of a number of key politicians in the US and around the world.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was among those who spoke.
"Misunderstood Joe Biden is unfit to run for president and certainly not fit to serve - and never has been! He made it to the presidency with nothing but lies, fake news and never leaving his basement," Trump said.
"Everyone around him, including his doctor and the media, knew he wasn't fit to be president, and he wasn't. And now look at what he's done to our country - millions of people coming across our border, completely unscreened and unscreened, many of them of prisons, mental clinics, and a record number of terrorists. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will repair the damage he has done, very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" the Republican added.
Another leading Republican, Speaker of Congress Mike Johnson, said that since Biden is not fit to participate in the election, he should resign as president.
"If Joe Biden is unable to run for president, he is unable to serve as president. He must immediately resign from his post. Nov. 5 can't come soon enough,” Johnson said.
After announcing his retirement, Biden endorsed his "vice" Kamala Harris for president.
"Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be our party's nominee this year," Biden wrote on the X social network.
Harris herself praised Biden's decision, calling it "patriotic."
"This is a selfless and patriotic act on Joe Biden's part," Harris said.
She received the support of a number of prominent representatives of the Democratic Party, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"We are honored to join the President (Biden) in his support of Vice President Harris and will do everything we can to support her," Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement.
"President Biden has capped his extraordinary career as a public servant with the presidency. He has led America out of an unprecedented pandemic, created millions of new jobs, rebuilt a shattered economy, strengthened our democracy and restored our standing in the world. We are honored to join the President in supporting for Vice President Harris, and we will do everything we can to support her," the joint statement added.
"We've been through many ups and downs, but nothing has worried us more about our country than the threat that Trump's second term poses. He's promised to be a dictator from day one, and the recent Supreme Court decision will only embolden him to tear up the Constitution even more so. Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with all the means at our disposal to get her elected. The future of America depends on it," the statement added.
Barack Obama said that Biden's decision was proof of his love for the country.
"Biden had every right to run for re-election," the former president said, praising the 81-year-old's achievements and calling him "a patriot of the highest order."
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Biden one of the most significant presidents in American history.
"Biden is an American patriot who has always put our country first. His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consistent presidents in American history,” Pelosi said.
She expressed her "love and gratitude" to the current head of state.
Bernie Sanders - a former candidate for the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency of the United States in the elections of 2016 and 2020 - thanked the American president for everything he did.
The news of the withdrawal caused the reaction of the heads of government of Great Britain and Germany - Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz.
Starmer said he respects US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the race for the White House.
"I respect President Biden's decision and look forward to working together for the rest of his presidency," Starmer wrote on the X social network.
"I know that, as he has throughout his remarkable career, he will make his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people," he added.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Biden's decision "deserves respect."
"My friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot: for his country, for Europe, for the world. Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong, and the United States is an effective and reliable partner for us," wrote German Chancellor H.
Reaction to Biden's withdrawal also came from Russia, with the Kremlin saying it would monitor the situation closely and that there was plenty of time before the US election in which many things could change.
"There are still four months left until the elections. And that's a long time, during which many things can change. We have to be careful, watch what will happen and go about our business," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. | BGNES
