Praise — and a few early notes of caution — poured in from friendly world leaders Sunday in the wake of the news that President Biden is quitting the race against former President Donald Trump.
Western European leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, wary of a return to the White House for Mr. Trump, heaped praise on Mr. Biden for his policies and for making his decision “based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people,” in Mr. Starmer’s words.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on the social media site X that Mr. Biden’s decision was “a great gesture from a great president who has always fought for democracy and freedom.”
The reaction from the Kremlin, which has been sharply critical of Mr. Biden’s efforts to rally allies in support of Ukraine in the war against Russia, was far more muted, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that the U.S. campaign is still very much in doubt and that Mr. Biden is expected to be in office through January.
“The elections are still four months away, and that is a long period of time in which a lot can change,” Mr. Peskov said. “We need to be patient and carefully monitor what happens. The priority for us is the [Ukraine war].”
There was no immediate official reaction from China or North Korea, two states that have had hostile relations with Mr. Biden’s administration. Iran’s state-controlled press carried an announcement without commentary of Mr. Biden’s decision to pull out of the race and to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place atop the Democratic ticket.
SEE ALSO: Israeli president praises Biden as Netanyahu prepares to meet lame-duck U.S. leader
In Israel, the country’s nonpartisan President Isaac Herzog hailed Mr. Biden as a “true ally of the Jewish people.”
One of Mr. Biden’s first official acts this week as a lame-duck president will be to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks ahead of Mr. Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who Mr. Biden endorsed as his successor to lead the Democratic ticket against Mr. Trump in November, was also scheduled to talk with the Israeli leader.
Relations between the two longtime allies have been strained in recent months over differences over how to conduct the war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants. Israel’s press, which is typically plugged into political currents in Washington, was filled with speculation over the weekend that Mr. Biden was delaying his decision to withdraw from the race until the Netanyahu visit was completed.
Mr. Herzog in his statement on the social media site X cited Mr. Biden’s long record in the Senate and the White House support of Israel, a record Mr. Biden frequently pointed to during tense negotiations with Mr. Netanyahu and his conservative coalition government.
“As the first U.S. president to visit Israel in wartime, as a recipient of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, [Mr. Biden] is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples,” Mr. Herzog wrote. “I send him, Jill Biden, and all his family, my warmest wishes from Jerusalem.”
SEE ALSO: Trump, Zelenskyy talk by phone amid questions over future of U.S. support for Ukraine
Expressions of affection also came quickly from another country with a long attachment to Mr. Biden over the course of his career: Ireland.
Taoiseach Simon Harris noted in a statement Sunday that Mr. Biden always took a “fierce pride” in his Irish roots, and was a strong supporter of the peace process that helped end sectarian violence between Ireland’s Protestant and Catholic communities.
“Joe Biden, in all the offices he has held, has always been an unwavering voice and passionate worker for peace on the island of Ireland, and our country owes him a great debt for this,” the Irish head of state said.
On a less positive note, Nigel Farage, head of the anti-immigration Reform UK party and a close political ally of Mr. Trump, reminded reporters Sunday that he had predicted in an op-ed piece nearly a year ago that Mr. Biden was such a weak candidate he would not end up being the Democratic nominee. Mr. Farage, writing on X, said it didn’t matter who eventually emerges as Mr. Biden’s replacement.
“Whoever they pick, Trump will win in November,” he wrote.
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.
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