On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. The news followed weeks of mounting pressure for the president to step down, due to concerns and skepticism about his health and ability to govern the country for another four years.
If Harris, 59, becomes the Democratic nominee and defeats Republican candidate Donald Trump in November, she would not only be the first woman to serve as president but also the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be president thanks to her roots.
Harris has already achieved a lot of firsts in her more than two decades in public life. Her feats include being the first Black woman to serve as San Francisco’s district attorney, the first woman to be California’s attorney general, the first Indian American senator, and the first woman vice president of the U.S.
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And though it’s still early days, multiple Black celebrities have already endorsed Harris’ presidential candidacy. On Sunday, Grammy-winner Cardi B took to X to remind her followers about her previous comments on who she thought was supposed to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
“AHAHAHAHA LETS GOOOOO I TOLD YALLL KAMALA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE 2024 candidate…..STOP FCKIN PLAYIN WITH ME !!!!!!!,” the rapper quoted about a previous video of her sharing her views on the Biden versus Trump debate.
Fellow musician Lil Nas X also wrote, “Lock in lil bro @KamalaHarris!” Actress Viola Davis similarly endorsed Harris in a post on Instagram. “I’m with her! ✊🏿💙💙💙💙,” the 58-year-old captioned alongside a photo of Harris and Biden.
“In the name of democracy, @JoeBiden did a brave and bold thing. I’m tremendously grateful for his years of service – and I am awed by his selfless leadership,” actress Kerry Washington also wrote on X. “Make no mistake. Our fight now remains EXACTLY the same. We must do everything we can to prevent another Trump presidency and an authoritarian government.”
She added: “@KamalaHarris can and will win this! I believe in her and I believe in us. Let’s gooooooooooooo!”
Singer John Legend shared a lengthy post on Instagram and praised President Biden’s leadership. “Joe Biden has presided over the most consequential first term of real progress in my lifetime. He helped us have the most robust recovery from the pandemic of any nation in the world, invested in our infrastructure and made by far the largest investment in fighting climate change our nation has ever seen. He relieved burdensome college debt for so many. Unemployment, inflation and crime are all down dramatically from the highs caused by the pandemic.”
He continued: “With this record, he more than earned re-election, but time and age comes for us all. I’m grateful for the grace and patriotism he has shown by choosing to step aside for the sake of the country. I’m so ready to work to help unite the pro-democracy coalition to reject Trump’s authoritarian, oppressive Project 2025 and elect Kamala Harris as our President. She’s ready for this fight and I’m excited to help her in any way I can.”
Television producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes also endorsed Harris’ candidacy in a post on Instagram. “I stood behind her in 2016 when she ran for Senate, I was behind her when she ran as @vp and I continue to stand behind her today. 🇺🇸 @kamalaharris,” the Grey’s Anatomy creator captioned alongside a photo of her and Harris.
“New, Youthful, Sharp , , energy !!!! You asked for it and our President Biden did what was best for the country !,” Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles similarly wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her and Harris. “Putting personal Ego , power and fame aside . That is the definition of a great leader, . Thank you, President Biden for your service and your leadership . Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #kamala2024”
“When she wins, we win! @vp @kamalaharris,” Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph shared on Instagram with a photo of her and Harris.
