Hollywood Reacts to Biden Exiting Race

Hollywood responded swiftly to the announcement that President Joe Biden was suspending his reelection campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Barbra Streisand, a Democratic supporter, expressed on X that “we should appreciate his commitment to our democracy.” While many acknowledged Biden’s presidency, others were uncertain about what lies ahead.

Cher shared on X that she felt conflicted because she doubted the Democrats could secure a win without Biden. She suggested thinking creatively and considering a split ticket as a solution.

In the weeks leading up to this decision, several prominent figures in Hollywood had been advocating for Biden to step down from the race. George Clooney, who had recently headlined a successful fundraiser for the president’s reelection campaign, penned an opinion piece in The New York Times urging Biden to withdraw.

Clooney made the case for selecting a new nominee, stating that although the process would be messy, it could galvanize voters in the party’s favor.

Other notable attendees at the star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles included Julia Roberts, Streisand, Jimmy Kimmel, former President Barack Obama, Jack Black, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kathryn Hahn, and Jason Bateman.

Ralph, on Sunday, shared a photo of herself with Harris, celebrating President Biden’s endorsement of the Vice President.

Here are some reactions from prominent celebrities:

Barbra Streisand

“Joe Biden will be remembered as a man who achieved significant milestones during his 4-year term. We should be thankful for his defense of our democracy.” — via a post on X.

Cher

“In my heart, I am torn because I don’t believe the Democrats can secure the Presidency with ‘Pres Biden’ ‘Joe’ whom I’ve cherished since our meeting in 2008. I campaigned for him, and I believe it’s time to pass the baton. It’s time for Dems to think outside the box, maybe even with a split ticket.” — via posts on X.

Rob Reiner

“Joe Biden is a man of the utmost integrity. He has dedicatedly and effectively served the US for over 50 years. He epitomizes real leadership—selfless with a profound respect for our Constitution and the Rule of Law.” — via a post on X, which ended with a dig at Donald Trump.

Mark Hamill

“@JoeBiden has an unparalleled record of accomplishments compared to any president in our lifetime. He restored honesty, dignity, and integrity to the office after 4 years of lies, crime, scandal, and chaos. Thank you for your service, Mr. President. It is now our responsibility as patriotic Americans to elect the Democrat who will uphold and advance your legacy.” — via a post on X. The “Star Wars” star humorously referred to Biden as “Joe-bi-Wan-Kenobi” during a visit to the Oval Office in May.

George Takei

“I want to pay tribute to our President @JoeBiden. He has admirably served our nation for decades, he is a decent honorable man, a highly successful president, and a patriot. Now let us unite behind @KamalaHarris and defeat Donald Trump in November!” — via a post on X.

Russell Brand

“Joe Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination after discontinuing his reelection campaign. It’s a wild world we’re living in, mate.” — via a post on X. Brand recently suggested voters should choose Trump over Biden.

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