President Biden Drops Out of 2024 Race: Reactions from GOP

President Biden’s unprecedented announcement on Sunday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, prompting reactions from both sides of the aisle.

Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP nominee, expressed his views on the matter. In a phone conversation with CBS News’ Robert Costa, Trump said that Mr. Biden’s decision to leave the race just weeks before the Democratic Convention and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris came as a surprise but was good for the country.

Trump believed that Mr. Biden was pressured out of the race and expressed uncertainty about whether Vice President Harris would be the final Democratic nominee. Despite the uncertainty, Trump made it clear that his campaign focus would remain on running against the Biden administration’s record regardless of who eventually becomes the Democratic nominee.

On social media, Trump announced the cancellation of his planned presidential debate on ABC and advocated for it to be held on Fox News instead, citing bias concerns. He also lashed out at President Biden, calling him “Crooked Joe” and the worst president in American history in a series of scathing posts.

Senator JD Vance of Ohio echoed similar sentiments, labeling Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the worst presidential duo in his lifetime. He criticized their policies, particularly on open borders and environmental issues, and expressed readiness to challenge them in the upcoming election alongside President Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana described Biden’s withdrawal as an unprecedented moment in American history, questioning the validity of the votes that elected him as the Democratic nominee. Johnson urged Mr. Biden to resign immediately, emphasizing the failures he attributed to the administration’s policies.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell highlighted the challenges faced by Americans under the Biden administration, pointing to inflation, border issues, and weakened global leadership. He expressed concern about the future under similar leadership and criticized the Democrats for disregarding the will of the people in primary elections.

Other Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, joined in calling for President Biden’s resignation and criticizing Vice President Harris for her role in what they termed the “open border crisis” and other failures.

Top Republican woman in the House, Rep. Elise Stefanik, urged Mr. Biden to resign immediately in light of his decision not to run for re-election. She also spoke out against the failures of the Biden administration, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to address critical issues facing the nation.

The voices of Republican senators like Steve Daines and Rick Scott also echoed the sentiment of President Biden’s incapacity to serve as President, urging his resignation for the sake of the nation’s security and stability.

The Republican National Committee leaders and the National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman condemned the Democrats for their alleged cover-up of President Biden’s health condition and expressed confidence in President Trump’s ability to address the challenges facing the country.

As the discussion around President Biden’s withdrawal intensifies, political figures like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves underscore the importance of strong leadership in addressing the issues of national security, economic stability, and border security.

Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in on the matter, emphasizing Vice President Kamala Harris’s role in endorsing the policies of President Biden and questioning her competence to lead the country effectively.

The reactions from top GOP officials reflect a deepening divide between the two major parties as they gear up for the upcoming elections, with Republicans positioning themselves as the alternative to the current Democratic leadership under President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Amidst the intense discourse and political maneuvering, one thing remains clear—a pivotal moment in American politics is underway, and the decisions made in the coming days will have far-reaching implications for the nation’s future.