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Joe Biden's family members react to decision to withdraw from race

    July 21 (UPI) — First lady Jill Biden took to social media on Sunday to quickly respond to her husband Joe Biden's announcement that he will not run for a second term as president.

    She reposted Biden's letter announcing his choice on Instagramalong with the double pink heart emoji.

    The president had sought advice from Jill Biden. NBC News reported last week that she also consulted his son Hunter and his younger sister, Valerie Owens.

    Owens served as a senior adviser on his successful 2020 presidential campaign and his bid for the U.S. Senate.

    The president is at home in Delaware, recovering from his announcement Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. It was not reported whether she was with him.

    President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk across the South Lawn toward the White House after landing aboard Marine One on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The President and First Lady are returning to the White House after campaign events in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPIPresident Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk across the South Lawn toward the White House after landing aboard Marine One on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The President and First Lady are returning to the White House after campaign events in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

    President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk across the South Lawn toward the White House after landing aboard Marine One on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The President and First Lady are returning to the White House after campaign events in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

    Jill Biden plans to be in Paris to lead the U.S. delegation to the Summer Olympics, which begin Friday.

    She was originally scheduled to take part in a fundraising event in Paris on Thursday organised by former US ambassador to the EU Tony Gardner, Belinda de Gaudemar and Lorna Johnson.

    Second Honourable Doug Emhoff will lead the delegation to the closing ceremony on August 11.

    Biden is also expected to attend some Olympic events during her trip to Paris, a White House official said.

    The president's granddaughter Naomi wrote on X: “To the Americans who have always relied on him, keep the faith. He will always rely on us.”

    She said she was proud of her “daddy,” who served the country “with all his heart and soul and with unparalleled distinction.”

    “He is not only the most effective president we have ever had, and will continue to be, but he has also established himself as probably the most effective and influential public servant in the history of our country,” Naomi said.

    “He was at the center of, and had a material impact on, literally every major issue that our country and the world has faced over the past 50 years. Our world is better in so many ways today because of him.”

    Naomi Biden became the first granddaughter of a president to be married in the White House in November 2022.

    Biden has seven grandchildren from his two sons: Hunter and Beau from his first wife, Nelia Hunter – who died in a car crash in 1972 with one daughter. Naomi's father is Hunter BidenJoe and Jill Biden have a daughter, Ashley, who has not yet publicly commented on her father's decision.