Biden estranged from ‘ruthless’ Pelosi and ‘harbors some resentment’ toward Obama, report says
Weeks of Democratic infighting leading up to President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race have left some emotional scars between the president and some party leaders, according to a new report.
Those close to Biden told POLITICO the president is slightly resentful that his friend and ally, former president Barack Obama, did not tell him to leave the race despite allegedly privately raising concerns that he could not defeat Donald Trump in November.
Biden allegedly is also displeased about the role that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer played in trying to pressure him to drop out.
But the president is reportedly mostly frustrated with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Though Pelosi initially expressed public support for Biden, after his disastrous presidential debate performance she gradually changed her tune. In interviews with MSNBC during the contentious weeks, Pelosi began to subtly hint that her confidence in Biden’s abilities was wavering.
Behind the scenes, Pelosi was reportedly helping orchestrate the widely shared belief among Democrats that Biden should not run against Trump.
As a senior member of the Democratic Party, and who is largely credited with standing up to Trump during his administration, Pelosi’s opinion is widely respected among members of her party.
Biden felt Pelosi took on a “ruthless” role, willing to set aside their long-standing relationship in order to secure the Democratic Party’s power in the presidential race, a senior White House official told POLITICO.
Biden has apparently not spoken with Pelosi since he announced he was dropping out and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Breadcrumbs of the two’s strained relationship