Democratic political strategist David Axelrod praised President Joe Biden for ending his bid for reelection after arguing for weeks that he needed to drop out of the election.
Biden announced that he would not seek reelection in a statement posted to X. He later gave his full endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Axelrod said “history will honor” Biden’s decision.
“Joe Biden has served our country with all his heart and great distinction for more than half a century. History will honor him for his many extraordinary accomplishments as president AND for the terribly difficult and selfless decision he made today. He understands what Donald Trump does not. Our country is bigger than any one person–even the president of the United States,” Axelrod said in reaction to Biden’s announcement.
Axelrod’s suggestions for Biden to drop out came after Biden gave a weak performance at the first presidential debate, with Axelrod defending his assessment in the weeks that followed. He contended that nobody can outrun “Father Time,” and that Biden’s age, 81, and mental acuity are major concerns for voters.
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Earlier this month, Axelrod slammed Biden for his behavior in an interview with ABC, arguing he “didn’t succeed” in quelling concerns voters have about his mental fitness to serve as president. Biden contended during the interview that he only had a “bad episode” in the debate.
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In November, Axelrod wrote on social media that Biden must consider whether his choice to run for reelection is for “HIS best interest or the country’s.” He later said he was not calling for Biden to drop out, and that the public’s reaction to his statements was overblown.
Former President Donald Trump, in his first statement since the news broke, stated that “Crooked Joe Biden” was “never” fit to be president, and that people in the United States “will suffer greatly because of his presidency.” Trump just became the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominee after surviving an assassination attempt earlier this month.
