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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump swiftly reacted to President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Trump, never one to mince words, took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to lambast his former opponent’s decision, labeling Biden as “not fit to run” and questioning his capacity to serve as President.
Trump’s message on Truth Social was characteristically blunt. “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve–And never was!” he declared, according to an ABCNews.com report on Sunday. He continued by asserting that those close to Biden, including his medical team and the media, were aware of his alleged incapability to hold the highest office in the land. “All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t,” Trump claimed, the ABCNews.com report said.
The former president seized the opportunity to reiterate his familiar campaign rhetoric, particularly focusing on his critique of Biden’s handling of the border situation. “We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump promised his followers, as per the information provided in the ABCNews.com report. He didn’t hold back on his assessment of Biden’s term, starting his statement with the assertion that Biden was “the Worst President, by far, in the History of our Nation.”
The announcement of Biden’s withdrawal also triggered an immediate response from Trump’s campaign, which launched a new fundraising initiative. The campaign’s message to supporters was clear and combative: “But RIGHT NOW, he just quit the race in COMPLETE DISGRACE!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also reacted strongly to the news, posting on X (formerly Twitter). Johnson framed Biden’s withdrawal as a forced decision by the Democratic Party, occurring a mere 100 days before the election. “At this unprecedented juncture in American history, we must be clear about what just happened. The Democrat Party forced the Democrat nominee off the ballot, just over 100 days before the election,” Johnson wrote, as was noted in the ABCNews.com report. He echoed Trump’s sentiment by calling for Biden’s immediate resignation. “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough,” Johnson insisted.
Senator Josh Hawley joined the chorus of voices demanding Biden’s resignation, swiftly reacting to the announcement and emphasizing the urgency of Biden stepping down from his position.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed Johnson’s sentiments, accusing Democratic leaders of undermining their voters. “Democrat party bosses just proved that they have absolutely no respect for their own voters. After lecturing others about democracy, they just forced Joe Biden off the ticket—trashing the primary choice of 14 million of their own voters,” Scalise wrote on X, according to the ABCNews.com report.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a detailed statement, highlighting what he described as the failures of Biden’s presidency. “For four years, the American people have faced historic inflation at home, chaos at the border, and weak leadership on the world stage. Our nation is less prosperous and less secure than it was in January, 2021. We cannot afford four more years of failure,” McConnell stated, as was affirmed in the ABCNews.com report. He accused the Democratic Party of trying to overturn the will of the voters and criticized their policies on various fronts. “Washington Democrats have not proven themselves any more capable than the President of delivering the secure borders, safe streets, and stable prices that working families deserve. They are selling open borders, higher prices, climate radicalism, and soft-on-crime policies, and the American people are not buying,” he concluded.
In a significant move, Biden threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden stated, as was reported by ABCNews.com. He further urged the Democratic Party to unite behind Harris, saying, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Biden also announced plans to address the nation later in the week to provide more details on his decision to withdraw from the race.
The Trump campaign, led by advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, launched a scathing attack on Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. “Crooked Joe Biden is a complete fraud and a disgrace to our Country,” they declared in a joint statement, the ABC News report added. Their condemnation reflects the broader strategy of Trump’s campaign to position themselves as the antidote to what they depict as the failures of the Biden administration.
“And during this entire term, Kamala Harris – as well as every other Democrat in Washington, sat by and did NOTHING. They are all just as complicit as Biden is in the destruction of our once-great Nation, and they must all be thrown out of office,” they declared.
They also raised concerns about Biden remaining in office for the remainder of his term, given his decision to withdraw due to health concerns, as was indicated in the ABCNews.com report. “The question then to Kamala Harris is simple: knowing that Joe Biden withdrew from the campaign because of his rapidly deteriorating condition, does Harris believe the people of America are safe and secure with Joe Biden in the White House for six more months?” they asked pointedly.
As Republican leaders united in their condemnation, Democratic leaders and Biden’s own team have been notably silent, leading to widespread speculation about the internal dynamics within the Democratic Party, as was observed on the ABCNews.com report. The lack of immediate response from prominent Democrats has only fueled further intrigue and uncertainty.
As Biden prepares to address the nation and provide further details on his decision, the political landscape is poised for significant upheaval. The Democratic Party must quickly rally behind a new candidate, with Vice President Kamala Harris now in the spotlight. Meanwhile, Republican leaders are capitalizing on the moment to galvanize their base and critique the current administration.
The next few months will be crucial as both parties navigate this unprecedented situation, with the 2024 presidential election looming large on the horizon. The stakes have never been higher, and the nation waits with bated breath to see how this political drama will unfold.
