Va. leaders and high-ranking politicians react to Biden’s withdrawal from presidential bid

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — After much speculation and predictions on whether President Joe Biden would withdraw from the race, Biden officially made the announcement Sunday.

The announcement was expected by many reports as increasing pressure from high ranking Democrats called for Biden to back out of the race.

However, confusion sparked when Biden released a statement Friday saying he was looking forward to continuing his campaign next week, making Americans believe he remained set on not dropping the race — only to do exactly that two days later. Biden also expressed that he fully endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.

Now, former presidents and high-ranking officials, including Virginia lawmakers, are responding to this both expected and yet sudden change of heart. Republicans appear to be going on the offense attacking Biden’s and Harris’ ability to lead the country. Meanwhile, many Democrats are expressing gratitude to the president and are readying themselves to back Harris as the new nominee.

Not surprisingly, former President Donald Trump bashed Biden by attacking his competency and leadership. Trump repeated previous jabs at Biden’s border policies saying the current president allowed terrorists and criminals into the country.

“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly,” Trump said, in part, on social media platform Truth Social. Ending with his motto, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

In contrast, former President Barack Obama and the Clintons have reflected fondly on Biden’s time in the Oval Office, releasing statements of their own.

Virginian Republicans including Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the Biden-Harris Administration is hurting the country and the world.

“Make no mistake, whether it’s border czar Kamala Harris or someone else, it’s the Biden/Harris Administration’s weak leadership and resulting chaos around the world and here at home that is on the ballot this November,” Youngkin said, on X. “It’s time for our nation to now come together with resolve to secure our borders, structure safe communities, grow an economy that lifts up all Americans and restores peace through strength.”

Virginia’s Attorney General Jason Miyares slammed the president saying that if Biden believes he is not fit to be president in January 2025, then he shouldn’t be serving as the current president. He called the current situation one of the “greatest political scandals in American history.” His statement on X saying, in part, “He’s not capable to serve now and needs to resign. We can’t afford any more weak leadership.”

Some Virginia lawmakers were more forgiving of Biden’s decision and thanked the current president for his commitment to America and his time in politics.

Delegate Don Scott, Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine have all expressed support and gratitude to the president, saying he guided the country and put the American peoples’ needs before his own.

“As I have been saying for weeks, President @JoeBiden is a patriotic American who has always put the needs of our country ahead of himself,” Kaine said, in part, on X. “For more than five decades, he has served this country admirably as a Senator, Vice President, and now President. His decision today reflects the same patriotism that George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt demonstrated when they selflessly put their country above their own political ambitions …”

Kaine goes on to say he was grateful for Biden’s service in politics as well as endorsed Harris, saying he looked forward to working with her to “keep Virginia blue.”

Don Scott thanked Biden on X, saying the president “calmed the country and brought us through a devastating crisis and put us back on track.”

Warner called Biden a “true American patriot” in his statement and said he respected the decision to step aside. He goes on to endorse Harris.

“I believe Vice President Harris has the experience, energy, and resolve to lead our nation,” his statement reads.  

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson questioned the Democratic Party’s integrity following the announcement. Johnson said the Democratic Party invalidated the votes of the American people by forcing Biden off the ballot.

“… the self-proclaimed ‘party of democracy’ has proven exactly the opposite,” Johnson said, on X. “The party’s prospects are no better now with Vice President Kamala Harris, who co-owns the disastrous policy failures of the Biden Administration. As second in command and a completely inept border czar, Harris has been a gleeful accomplice — not only in the destruction of American sovereignty, security, and prosperity, but also in the largest political coverup in U.S. history. She has known for as long as anyone of his incapacity to serve …”

Johnson reiterated previous Republicans’ calls for Biden to resign immediately. Republican Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates Todd Gilbert’s statement was similar to Johnson’s as he, too, said the Democratic Party “ousted their democratically chosen nominee.”

Other Virginia lawmakers who have responded include: Delegate Mike Mullin, Sen. Angelia Williams Graves, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congresswoman Jennifer L. McClellan, Sen. Louise Lucas, Sen. Aaron Rouse and more continue to put out statements. Most have repeated sentiments of gratitude to Biden, reflected on his leadership during the pandemic as well as endorsed Harris.

Del. Michael Feggans, whose district represents part of Virginia Beach, also released a statement in support of President Biden’s decision. He said, in part, “As one of the nearly 150 national Delegates representing Virginia at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, I am proud to have the opportunity to cast my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as our next commander-in-chief. Her leadership will continue to build upon the progress we have seen over the past few years and further strengthen our nation. Thank you once again Mr. President, for your decades of service and leadership to this country. Let’s go win this.”

The Vice President has responded to the endorsement and decision for Biden to step down in her own statement. She started with thanking Biden and reflected working alongside him before responding to the endorsement.

“… I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said, in her statement. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”