Celebrities praise Joe Biden and rally round Kamala Harris
Several well-known individuals have been prompt in expressing their admiration for US President Joe Biden following his announcement that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming presidential race in November.
For a long time, Hollywood has been a reliable source of support - and funding - for President Biden's Democratic Party. However, in the past few weeks, donors have been backing away from the president following a lackluster showing in a TV debate against opponent Donald Trump.
After the news was shared, a few individuals have openly stated their backing for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the Democratic nomination.
TV personality and comedian Jon Stewart praised Mr. Biden as a "hero", while actor Robert De Niro described his choice as a "smart political move and admirable dedication to his country".
De Niro, who strongly opposes Trump, said that it is crucial to defeat him in the upcoming election for the benefit of our country.
Barbara Streisand, who has won an Oscar for acting and singing, had positive words for Mr Biden. She said that he would be remembered for achieving important things during his time as president. This was shared in a post on X.
Actor Mark Hamill praised the current officeholder for bringing back a sense of truth, respect, and morality to the position following four tumultuous years filled with deceit, illegality, controversy, and disorder under former President Trump.
Director Ken Burns emphasized that President Biden has successfully guided the country out of the challenges left behind by his predecessor, all the while quietly working towards positive change for all Americans.
John Legend, a popular singer, expressed his appreciation for Joe Biden's graciousness and loyalty in stepping aside. He announced his endorsement for Kamala Harris, stating that she is prepared for the upcoming challenges and that he is eager to support her in any way possible.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis spoke highly of Ms Harris, emphasizing her track record of being reliable and proven. Curtis commended Harris for being a strong supporter of women's rights and communities of color, noting that her message promotes hope and togetherness during a time of significant division in America.
If she wins the upcoming election in November, Ms. Harris would make history by becoming the first female and woman of color to hold the position of President in the United States.
"Time to create some history!!!" exclaimed comedic star Kathy Griffin on X, as pop singer Katy Perry uploaded a video on Instagram singing "This world belongs to us women, and you should feel privileged to be a part of it" in correlation to her newest hit song.
In a recent statement, George Takei, known for his role in Star Trek, described the upcoming election as a battle between a prosecutor and a felon. Takei was alluding to Kamala Harris' background as a prosecutor and Donald Trump's guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The singer Charli XCX also seems to support the vice president, as she shared on X: "kamala IS brat".
This refers to the singer's newest album 'Brat', which is gaining popularity on social media. Fans are posting videos of Ms. Harris combined with Charli XCX's music, creating a trending topic.
Kamala HQ, the official website for Ms. Harris' campaign, has also joined in on the trend by updating its cover photo to mirror the color and design of the Brat album cover.
The entertainment industry has been a reliable source of financial support for the Democratic party, but has started to distance itself from President Biden in the past few weeks.
Many influential people publicly pulled their backing from his campaign and urged for him to be replaced.
An example of this is Aaron Sorkin, known for creating the American political show The West Wing. In an article for the New York Times, published just before Mr. Biden's announcement, Sorkin suggested that Democrats should consider nominating Mitt Romney, a prominent Republican senator and former presidential candidate.
He has now changed his mind, stating: "I take back what I said. Harris should be the choice for America!" in a post shared on West Wing actor Joshua Malina's social media page.
Another example is actor George Clooney, who recently expressed his admiration for Joe Biden in a New York Times article. However, he also mentioned concerns about Biden's age and public mistakes during the campaign, stating that these factors could hinder their chances of winning against the current president in November.
Mr. Clooney has not made any comments since Mr. Biden resigned.
