‘Harris for America!’: Hollywood reacts with gratitude – and relief – as Joe Biden steps aside

Celebrities including Aaron Sorkin, Robert De Niro and Barbra Streisand have shared their support for the US president's decision to end his election campaign

Hollywood has reacted to the news that the US president, Joe Biden, is dropping out of the presidential election with gratitude and a sigh of relief, having for the most part stayed stumm in recent weeks as only a few celebrities called for him to step aside.

Just hours before Biden announced he was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing the vice-president, Kamala Harris, West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin argued in a New York Times opinion piece that the Democrats should select Republican Mitt Romney to defeat former president Donald Trump in November, as a clear and powerful demonstration" about stopping a deranged man from taking power".