Reaction from Paris and London after Joe Biden exits 2024 US presidential race

(21 Jul 2024)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4507491

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris - 21 July 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of Arc De Triomphe
2. Close of French national flag
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Yao, tourist from U.S.:
"I'm personally just in shock. I learned about it probably 30 minutes ago. So I don't have a whole lot of thoughts, but it's more just I've been trying to do some research on like what's going to happen after and who would actually replace him. That's kind of where I'm at."
++WHITE FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jared Stemper, tourist from U.S.: "He should have get more time and respect the wishes of quite a few of his colleagues to drop sooner if he intended to do so."
7. People at restaurants
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Halpin (left) and Martina Quite (right), tourists from Ireland:
Michelle Halpin: "I think Trump has a very good chance of winning, yes."
Martina Quite: "I would love to see Kamala win. Really and truly, I think it's time. That's what the way I would feel about it. And I think she'd be a good president."
9. Wide of Arc De Triomphe

ASSOCIATED PRESS
London - 21 July 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
10. (SOUNDBITE) English, Cass Cannon, London resident (originally from Virginia, U.S.)
"I am glad to hear it. I have a great deal of respect for him and what he's done but I think he's lost the confidence as a leader, even though he might know what he is doing, I don't think he can galvanise the will of the people, that's very important at this time. So, I think he's made the right choice."
++WHITE FRAMES++

11. (SOUNDBITE) English, Solomon Baug, London Resident:
"Biden wasn't a strong candidate in the first place and I feel like with the momentum of how everything is going I feel in the end Trump is going to win. I don't really think of a candidate this close to election who could come in for Biden and change that outcome. So it's just, overall, news is kind of deflating because I just think what's gonna happen is gonna happen and there is not too much that can be done about it now that there is, not a final nail in the coffin, but more or less."
STORYLINE:
President Joe Biden has announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, upending the dynamics of the election in which he was to face Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Biden's decision comes after a poor debate performance that prompted many Democrats to urge him to drop his bid for a second term in the White House.

Its left many supporters and onlookers shocked, some happy with the decision others unsure what comes next.

In Paris, U.S. tourist Alex Yao told The AP, "I don't have a whole lot of thoughts, but it's more just I've been trying to do some research on like what's going to happen after and who would actually replace him."

While in the United Kingdom, London resident Solomon Baugh said, "Biden wasn't a strong candidate in the first place and I feel like with the momentum of how everything is going I feel in the end Trump is going to win. I don't really think there's a candidate this close to election who could come in for Biden and change that outcome."

After posting a statement to social media, Biden threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democrats' new candidate, and she vowed to “earn and win” the nomination.

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