World leaders react to Biden’s choice to exit 2024 presidential race

Israeli officers had been among the many first to supply their reward, with President Isaac Herzog thanking Biden for his “friendship and steadfast help” and hailing the 81-year-old as “a real ally of the Jewish folks” in a put up on X.

Because the Hamas-led assaults on Oct. 7, Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, although he has additionally clashed repeatedly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over humanitarian assist deliveries and the toll of the battle on Palestinian civilians. Netanyahu, who’s scheduled to land in Washington on Monday and tackle Congress on Wednesday, had no fast response to Biden’s announcement.

Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant thanked Biden for his “unwavering help” and stated the president’s “steadfast backing” within the conflict in opposition to Hamas has been “invaluable.”

Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid stored his response transient, posting a picture of himself grinning and fist-bumping Biden alongside the caption: “Thanks.”

Biden has additionally been a agency backer of Ukraine and its efforts to repel Russia’s 2022 invasion, supplying Kyiv with American weapons and diplomatic help regardless of mounting opposition from congressional Republicans.

“He supported our nation throughout essentially the most dramatic second in historical past, assisted us in stopping Putin from occupying our nation, and has continued to help us all through this horrible conflict,” President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was circumspect, noting that “so much can change” within the 4 months till voters go to the polls in November. Russia will “concentrate and watch what occurs subsequent,” he added.

In the UK, new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated he revered Biden’s choice.

“I do know that, as he has achieved all through his exceptional profession, President Biden may have made his choice primarily based on what he believes is in the very best pursuits of the American folks,” Starmer stated.

Starmer, who met with Biden earlier this month in Washington, stated he regarded ahead to working with him through the closing months of his presidency.

Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak applauded Biden’s “love for America and dedication to service.”

Nigel Farage, a member of Britain’s Parliament and chief of the right-wing celebration Reform UK, took a special tone: “Whoever they decide, Trump will win in November,” he posted on X.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked Biden for strengthening NATO and supporting “transatlantic cooperation,” writing on X that Biden’s choice to withdraw from the race “deserves recognition.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to as Biden “a associate to Canadians — and a real good friend”; Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, famous that beneath Biden, his nation’s relationship with america had “by no means been stronger.” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who met Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington this month, stated the president “has devoted his life to public service, and that’s one thing that deserves a lot respect.”

Eire’s prime minister, Simon Harris, referred to as Biden “a voice for purpose, efficient multilateralism and shared options,” in a press release posted to X.

Biden, whose household has roots in Eire, visited the nation final yr. One in every of his closing stops was at Mayo Roscommon Hospice, the place a plaque commemorates his late son Beau Biden, who died of mind most cancers in 2015.

“Mr President, Eire will defend the piece of your son Beau’s legacy that you just left in County Mayo,” Harris wrote Sunday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez referred to as Biden’s choice “courageous and dignified” and credited him for supporting Ukraine in opposition to Russian aggression. “A terrific gesture from a terrific president who has at all times fought for democracy and freedom,” Sánchez tweeted on Sunday.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described Biden’s transfer as a “troublesome step” and expressed hope {that a} “good president” will emerge from a race between two “robust and equal candidates” in November.

Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, counseled Biden for one more troublesome choice in an extended profession of them and for making “democracy stronger.”

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, in the meantime, singled out Biden’s “management of the West.”

As Biden endorsed Vice President Harris to take his place on the high of the ticket, and Washington wrestled with the sweeping implications of his choice to step apart from the race, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics summed up the response of many: “Politics has by no means been so fascinating,” he wrote on X.

Seth reported from New York. Rachel Pannett in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.