A host of well-known personalities have quickly shown their respect for US President Joe Biden following his announcement that he will not be running in the upcoming November presidential election.
Hollywood, traditionally a robust supporter and financial backer of Biden’s Democratic Party, had recently seen some donors withdraw their support after Biden’s poor performance in a televised debate with rival Donald Trump.
In the wake of this announcement, several prominent figures have shifted their backing to Vice President Kamala Harris as she vies for the Democratic nomination.
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Jon Stewart, the talk show host and comedian, hailed Biden as a “legend,” while actor Robert De Niro described his decision as a “shrewd political move and a display of selfless patriotism.” De Niro, a vocal critic of Trump, emphasized, “There is nothing more crucial for our country than defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box.”
Barbara Streisand, an Oscar-winning actress and singer, lauded Biden in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), predicting he will “go down in history as a man who achieved significant accomplishments during his four-year term.”
Mark Hamill, of Star Wars fame, praised Biden for restoring “honesty, dignity & integrity” to the presidency after what he termed as four years of “lies, crime, scandal & chaos” under Trump.
Director Ken Burns echoed these sentiments, commending Biden for leading the nation out of the tumultuous period of his predecessor while quietly benefiting all Americans. Singer John Legend expressed gratitude for Biden’s “grace and patriotism” in stepping aside and voiced his support for Harris, stating, “She’s ready for this fight and I’m excited to help her in any way I can.”
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis endorsed Harris, calling her a “trusted and tested” leader and a “fierce advocate for women’s rights and people of color.” Curtis added that Harris’ message is one of hope and unity for a nation deeply divided. Should she win the November election, Harris would make history as the first woman and woman of color to become President of the United States. Comedian Kathy Griffin encouraged this historic milestone with a post on X saying, “Let’s make history!!!”
Singer Katy Perry shared her support via Instagram, singing, “It’s a woman’s world, and you’re lucky to be living in it,” referencing her latest single. George Takei, of Star Trek fame, highlighted the potential showdown, describing it as “prosecutor vs felon,” a nod to Harris’ career as a prosecutor and Trump’s conviction on 34 charges for falsifying business records.
Charli XCX, another entertainer, also showed her support for Harris, tweeting, “kamala IS brat,” in reference to her latest album “Brat,” which has become a trend on social media with supporters posting videos of Harris set to Charli XCX’s music. The official X page for Harris’ campaign has joined in on the trend, updating its cover photo to match the Brat album’s style.
Hollywood, a significant financial contributor to the Democratic Party, had recently distanced itself from Biden. Among those who withdrew support is Aaron Sorkin, creator of the political drama The West Wing, who penned an opinion piece for the New York Times urging Democrats to nominate Republican Senator Mitt Romney instead. However, following Biden’s announcement, Sorkin recanted, tweeting via West Wing actor Joshua Malina’s account, “I take it all back. Harris for America!”
Actor George Clooney, who recently reiterated his admiration for Biden in a New York Times op-ed but highlighted concerns over Biden’s age and public missteps, has not yet commented since Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
