Cher, Jon Stewart, more celebrities react to Joe Biden's decision to drop out of presidential race
Celebrities from across the entertainment spectrum are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing that is exiting the 2024 presidential race, ending his campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump, and Biden's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee in his place.
Celebrity reaction to President Biden’s faulty debate performance in June and his uneven public appearances in the weeks that followed made headlines. Notably, George Clooney, who recently co-hosted a fundraiser for Biden, penned an op-ed in which he declared that Biden should step down.
Now, after Biden said in a statement posted Sunday that he will “stand down," big names in entertainment are sharing their immediate reactions to Biden's decision.
Talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart reacted to the news with a one-word post on X shortly after President Biden’s announcement.
“Legend,” wrote Stewart, seemingly reacting to Biden’s decision to leave the race, as well as his decades of public service.
Actor Mark Hamill also took to X, writing that Biden "restored honesty, dignity & integrity" to the presidency "after 4 years of lies, crime, scandal & chaos."
"Thank you for your service, Mr. President. It's now our duty as patriotic Americans to elect the Democrat who will honor & further your legacy," he wrote.
Singer Cher also commented on Biden’s decision to leave the race.
"Hadn’t Seen TV/Talked 2 Anyone,So Didn’t Know It Had Happened,” wrote Cher, who had urged Biden to “pass the baton“ on X moments earlier. “I Believe Its Only Chance 4🇺🇸 2 Remain DEMOCRACY. DEM PARTY MUST ‘REALLY,’ ‘REALLY’ THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. ‘WINNING IS ALL’,DONT WIN CANT CHANGE ANYTHING & THE TIMES THEY MUST BE A CHANGIN." she wrote.
Joining the singers commenting on Biden’s decision to drop out of the race was Barbra Streisand. The entertainment legend praised the president for his nearly four years of service in the Oval Office.
"Joe Biden will go down in history as a man who accomplished significant achievements in his 4 year term," wrote Streisand. "We should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy," she concluded.
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph of "Abbott Elementary" took to X, posting several times in the aftermath of Biden’s decision. "Kamala Harris," she wrote, followed by a post including a photo of her and the vice president. "President Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris !" she added.
Actor Scott Baio, whose politics are conservative, reposted a tweet criticizing the support for Harris as the democratic candidate as opposed to Trump's popular party nomination, adding the comment, "Yet they scream 'democracy'."
"Freaky Friday" actress Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to support both Biden and Vice President Harris in a post that included a photo of Harris. "I support wholeheartedly @joebiden and his decision to step down and to endorse unreservedly @kamalaharris 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," wrote Curtis.
Academy Award winner Robert De Niro thanked Biden for his "act of shrewd politics and selfless patriotism" in a statement to The Hill. "Joe Biden is stepping aside to clear the path for another Democrat to become president," De Niro continued. "Because there is nothing more important for our country than defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box...With respect, admiration, and affection, thank you Mr. President!"
Grammy-winning singer John Legend posted a statement in an Instagram post, reacting to the news by first praising Biden and mentioning Biden's contributions, including in helping to fight climate change and relive "burdensome college debt," among others before calling for the public to "elect Kamala Harris as our President."
"She's ready for this fight and I'm excited to help her in any way I can," Legend wrote.
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres also took to Instagram, reposting Biden's announcement about dropping out of the race with a caption, "I'm grateful to President Biden for everything he's done."
Also expressing his gratitude to Biden, Jimmy Kimmel shared a photo of himself with the President and the First Lady on his Instagram. "Thank you President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for your leadership, integrity, empathy and service to our country," he wrote in the caption.
Model Christie Brinkley shared her endorsement of Harris after thanking Biden via Instagram stories. "This is an EXCITING Day for Women!" Brinkley wrote over a photo of Harris and Biden together. "@kamalaharris For President."
Singer Demi Lovato responded to the news by reposting Biden's endorsement post of Harris on her Instagram Story, linking it to the democratic party donation site and writing, "Let's do this!!" She also posted a picture of herself with Harris in another story.
Noting that Biden "will go down as one of the great ones," documentary filmmaker Ken Burns thanked the President after he dropped out of the race in a statement on X. "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."
