The world reacts to Joe Biden quitting the 2024 presidential race: Israeli President says Biden symbolises the ‘unbreakable bond between our two people’ while Ireland’s Taoiseach calls him a ‘voice for reason’

The world has reacted to US President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election, with Israel’s Prime Minister leading the accolades.

The 81-year-old stepped down tonight after weeks of questions about his fitness to serve following his disastrous performance at the presidential debate, in which he made a series of mistakes from which he was unable to recover.

His historic move came 24 days after the debate, following a 50-year career in politics that culminated in his appointment to the White House.

Biden, a longtime supporter of Israel, was congratulated by the country’s prime minister.

Isaac Herzog wrote about Biden in a message to X: “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Joe Biden for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people throughout his decades-long career.

“As the first American president to visit Israel during a time of war, as a recipient of Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, he is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples.

“I send him, Jill Biden and his entire family my warmest wishes from Jerusalem.”

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described Biden as a “voice of reason”.

“On behalf of the people and government of Ireland, I, as Taoiseach, would like to thank you, Mr President, for your global leadership and your friendship as you announce that you will not be standing in the 2024 US presidential election,” he said.

‘The world has changed since President Biden’s victory in 2020 and we have faced extraordinary challenges, ranging from a global pandemic to the return of war on the European continent with Russia’s horrific full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in which innocent civilians were deliberately targeted and killed.

“President Biden is a voice for reason, effective multilateralism, and shared solutions.”

Across the Irish Sea, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected earlier this month, said: “I respect President Biden’s decision and look forward to working together during the remainder of his presidency.

“I know that President Biden, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, will base his decision on what he believes is best for the American people.”

In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “My friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot: for his country, for Europe, for the world.

“Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is strong, NATO is strong and the US is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run for re-election deserves recognition.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed Scholz’s sentiments, saying: “Mr. President, you have taken many difficult decisions that have made Poland, America and the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger.

“I know you were guided by the same principles when you made your latest decision, perhaps the most difficult of your life.”

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said: ‘It is undoubtedly the decision of a statesman who has served his country for decades. It is a responsible and personally difficult step, but it is all the more valuable.

‘I hope that the US will have a good president from the democratic struggle between two strong and equal candidates.’

Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, said on X: “All my admiration and recognition for the courageous and dignified decision of President Joe Biden.

‘Thanks to her determination and leadership, the US overcame the economic crisis following the pandemic and the massive attack on the Capitol and continued to support Ukraine in an exemplary manner against Putin’s Russian aggression.

“A great gesture from a great president who has always fought for democracy and freedom.”

And Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere added: “I respect Joe Biden’s decision not to run for re-election. That justification deserves respect,” Stoere told national broadcaster NRK.

“Biden has been one of America’s most prominent politicians for decades and a president who has implemented several important reforms.”

Biden’s closest neighbour, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said: ‘I’ve known President Biden for many years. He’s a great human being and everything he does is guided by his love for his country.

“As president, he has been a partner to Canadians and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady, thank you.”

Biden’s international opponents also made their voices heard.

The Kremlin said it was closely monitoring developments after US President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 US election race, saying “a lot could change” in the meantime.

“The elections are still four months away. And it is a long time, during which much can change. We need to pay attention, follow what is going to happen and continue with our business,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the news outlet Life.ru.

Biden announced his shocking decision in a one-page letter pledging to finish his term. Shortly after, he posted a follow-up tweet endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.

Now Democrats must rush to bolster their campaign and focus on a new candidate, with less than four months until Election Day.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to his X account on Sunday.

“And while it was my intention to be re-elected,” he continued, “I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step down and focus solely on fulfilling the duties of my president for the remainder of my term.”

The announcement came on the same day that a host of Biden’s allies took to the airwaves to stress that the president would not step down and would continue his re-election campaign.

Biden indicated in his letter that he would elaborate on his decision in an address to the nation later this week.

Last week, Biden was pulled from the campaign trail after being diagnosed with COVID-19 for the third time in the midst of a West Coast swing, fueling further speculation that he would soon drop out of the race.