As President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, Hollywood was quick to react with Cher, Cardi B, Barbra Streisand, Robert De Niro and John Legend among the celebrities weighing in.
Grammy-winning singer John Legend said Joe Biden had “more than earned re-election, but time and age come for us all”, in a post on Instagram before endorsing Kamala Harris to replace the president on the ticket.
Cher, in her characteristic way of posting on X, said: “I Believe Its Only Chance 4 [the US] 2 Remain DEMOCRACY.
“‘WINNING IS ALL’, DONT WIN CANT CHANGE ANYTHING & THE TIMES THEY MUST BE A CHANGIN.” she wrote.
Barbra Streisand. File pic: Reuters
Barbra Streisand, a Democratic supporter, wrote on X that “we should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.”
Follow live: Reaction as Biden pulls out of race
Rapper Cardi B rejoiced on X, saying: “LETS GOOOOO I TOLD YALLL KAMALA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE 2024 candidate,” in reference to a video she’d posted on 30 June.
In that video, she said the Democratic party was selfish for letting the 81-year-old Biden run for re-election and that Harris should replace him.
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Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who in May nicknamed Joe Biden as “Joe-bi-Wan-Kenobi”, said the president had “restored honesty, dignity & integrity to the office” by quitting the race.
“It’s now our duty as patriotic Americans to elect the Democrat who will honour & further your legacy,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Hocus Pocus star Bette Midler called Mr Biden a “true American patriot”, writing on X: “He is the rarest of politicians, a decent man who lived by his values.”
She also called Republican presidential nominee Mr Trump a “schmuck” for his response to Mr Biden’s announcement, in which he called Mr Biden “the worst” president in US history.
Robert De Niro argues with a Donald Trump supporter after supporting Joe Biden outside Trump’s criminal trial in New York. File pic: AP
Robert De Niro, who supported the Biden campaign in recent weeks, thanked Mr 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 because there is nothing more important for our country than defeating Donald Trump,” he said.
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Freaky Friday actress Jamie Lee Curtis said she “unreservedly” endorsed Kamala Harris because she is “a fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of colour”.
Star Trek actor George Takei said Joe Biden “is a decent, honourable man, a hugely successful president, and a patriot”.
“Now let us unite behind @KamalaHarris and defeat Donald Trump in November!” he said in a post on X.