"Great respect" for Biden, Dutch PM says after withdrawal from U.S. presidential race
Prime Minister Dick Schoof has “great respect” for United States President Joe Biden. “I am grateful for the good cooperation and his continued commitment to a safe Europe,” Schoof told ANP through a spokesperson after Biden announced he withdrew his candidacy for reelection.
Schoof praised Biden, calling him “a president with a great track record,” and said that he looked forward to working with Biden in the final months of his term.
Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in a letter published on X on Sunday. “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,” he said.
He expressed support for his vice president, Kamala Harris, to be the Democrats’ new candidate. Harris said she was honored and confirmed her candidacy. Various prominent Democrats have already thrown their support behind her.
She has a considerable chance of becoming the Democrats’ presidential candidate, according to NOS correspondent Marieke De Vries. “It does not necessarily have to be the case that she will automatically be the one because Biden supports her. Other people can also raise their hands. But yes, if you look at the party prominents who already support her and also potential opponents, then everything at the moment indicates that the preference is unanimously for her.”
VVD parliamentarian Eric van der Burg thinks it doesn’t matter who the Democrats nominate - Donald Trump and the Republicans will win this race, he said on the TV program Zomergaste on Sunday. “If you look at the polls, you see that Trump is ahead by such a landslide that I fear the fight is over for the Democrats.” Van der Burg said he understood Biden’s decision to withdraw. “It was coming. The question was not if, but when.”
Other Dutch parliamentarians also expressed understanding for the decision. Thom van der Lee (GroenLinks-PvdA) called it “courageous, wise, and sensible” that Biden is making way for another candidate.”
BBB MP Henk Vermeer spoke of “a painful but, as it turned out, inevitable decision.”
ChristenUnie leader Mirjam Bikker said that Biden was putting his country first. “Taking a step back after a lifetime of service deserves nothing but respect and shows a lot of class.”
