Describing U.S. President Joe Biden as a “great man” who loved his country, world leaders on Monday thanked him for his bold steps and global leadership during challenging times.

Mr. Biden on Sunday announced that he is exiting the 2024 presidential race and backed his deputy Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the November 5 election.

Also Read:U.S. Presidential Elections 2024 LIVE updates

In a post on X, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he respects President Biden’s decision and looks forward to working together for the remainder of his term.

“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people,” said Mr. Starmer, who met with Mr. Biden this month in Washington.

Former U.K. prime minister Rishi Sunak said in a post on X that he saw Mr. Biden’s “love for America and dedication to service” firsthand while working with him. He also outlined some achievements between the U.S. and the U.K.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a post on X thanked Mr. Biden for his “leadership and ongoing service”.

“The Australia-US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations,” he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Mr. Biden for being a “partner to Canadians – and a true friend”.

“I’ve known President Biden for years. He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As President, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you,” Mr. Trudeau posted on X along with a photograph of him with Mr. Biden.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, “I refrain from commenting directly on this issue because it involves domestic politics in the US but I recognise that President Biden’s decision is based on his desire to make the best possible political decision.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is grateful to President Biden for his “unwavering support” for its fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical.

“Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today’s tough but strong decision,” he said on X.

Mr. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will always be thankful for Mr. Biden’s leadership. “He supported our country during the most dramatic moment in history, assisted us in preventing Putin from occupying our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war,” he said.

Taking to X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Mr. Biden as a “true ally of the Jewish people” and thanked him for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades-long career.

“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, he is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples. I send him, @FLOTUS Jill Biden, and all his family, my warmest wishes from Jerusalem,” Herzog wrote.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in a post on X said the U.S. president’s “steadfast backing, especially during the war, has been invaluable”.

The Biden administration has been one of the biggest supporters of Israel’s war in Gaza since Hamas’ October 7 attacks last year. But he has increasingly clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over humanitarian aid and the mounting civilian death toll of the conflict.

Mr. Netanyahu, who is expected to visit Washington this week, has not yet given any statement on Mr. Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called Mr. Biden “a proud American with an Irish soul,” and thanked him for his “global leadership” and “friendship”.

In a post on X, Ireland Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said he heard the news “with both sadness & admiration”, describing Biden as an “abiding friend of Ireland”. Martin said Biden provided “invaluable support for peace & prosperity on this island” and wished him the best.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a post on X that “Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect.” He thanked Biden for his “commitment to New Zealand” and said he looks “forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that Mr. Biden had made difficult decisions “thanks to which Poland, America and the world are safer, and democracy stronger.”

“I know you were driven by the same motivations when announcing your final decision. Probably the most difficult one,” Mr. Tusk said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at a rally on Sunday said Mr. Biden made the “correct” decision and put his family and health first. He wished him “health and a long life.”

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said it does not wish to comment on domestic political situations in other countries, but added that the South Korean government “will continue to work closely with the U.S. to further develop the South Korea-U.S. global comprehensive strategic alliance”.

Mr. Biden’s decision to nominate Ms. Harris, who is of both Indian and African origin, follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after his disastrous presidential debate performance against his Republican rival and former U.S. president Donald Trump last month.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” Mr. Biden said in a post on X.

File picture of U.S. President Joe Biden
| Photo Credit: AP

U.S. President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump, leaving the presidential race in uncharted territory. He also announced his endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

ALSO READ: U.S. presidential elections LIVE updates: Joe Biden drops out of race

Mr. Biden, in a post on X, said he will remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025 and will address the nation this week.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Mr. Biden wrote.

By dropping his reelection bid, he clears the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run at the top of the ticket, the first Black woman to do so in the country’s history.

Endorses Harris

Mr. Biden, 81, in a separate post on X, said that he would support and endorse Ms. Harris to be the Democratic party nominee ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he wrote.

It was unclear whether other senior Democrats would challenge Ms. Harris for the party’s nomination, who was widely seen as the pick for many party officials — or whether the party itself would choose to open the field for nominations.

Pressure to step down

Mr. Biden’s announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to quit the race after his shockingly poor performance in a televised debate against Republican rival Mr. Trump, who is 78.

Mr. Biden’s failure at times to complete clear sentences took the public spotlight away from Mr. Trump’s performance, in which he made a string of false statements, and trained it instead on questions surrounding Mr. Biden’s fitness for another 4-year term.

Days later he raised fresh concerns in an interview, shrugging off Democrats’ worries and a widening gap in opinion polls, and saying he would be fine losing to Mr. Trump if he knew he’d “gave it my all.”

His gaffes at a NATO summit — invoking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name when he meant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and calling Harris “Vice President Trump” — further stoked anxieties.

Only four days before Sunday’s announcement, Mr. Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 for a third time, forcing him to cut short a campaign trip to Las Vegas. More than one in 10 congressional Democrats had called publicly for him to quit the race.

Mr. Biden’s historic move — the first sitting president to give up his party’s nomination for re-election since President Lyndon Johnson in March 1968 — leaves his replacement with less than four months to wage a campaign.