We haven’t heard much from the president ever since he dropped out. But now he’s just come forward with much to say.
And Biden makes a shocking admission about the 2024 race that’s stunned Americans.
In a revealing interview, President Joe Biden acknowledged that his departure from the 2024 presidential race was heavily influenced by concerns from Democratic Party leaders, who feared his continued candidacy might jeopardize their chances in the upcoming elections.
Notably, Biden mentioned former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by name, hinting at her significant role in this pivotal decision.
Biden explained that many Democrats in both the House and Senate were worried about the potential impact his campaign might have on their re-election efforts. He expressed concern that his re-election bid would become a major distraction, dominating media coverage and public discourse.
“A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic — you’d be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say [something] … and I thought it’d be a real distraction,” Biden shared during his interview with “CBS News Sunday Morning.”
Reflecting on his political journey, Biden acknowledged that he had always seen himself as a transitional president, emphasizing his age and the broader mission of preserving democracy as key factors in his decision to step aside.
“When I ran the first time, I thought of myself as being a transition president. I can’t even say how old I am — it’s hard for me to get out of my mouth,” he admitted. He noted that maintaining the stability of American democracy was a priority that further solidified his choice to exit the race.
Biden’s decision to bow out came in the wake of a contentious period marked by widespread dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party, especially after a particularly challenging debate performance against former President Donald Trump. As pressure mounted, Biden ultimately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who has since gained traction in the polls against Trump.
While Biden did not delve into specifics regarding his relationship with Pelosi, it is widely reported that she played a critical role in persuading him to leave the race. Although Pelosi has not directly confirmed these reports, her actions during this period suggest a calculated effort to ensure the Democratic Party’s success in the 2024 election.
Initially, Pelosi defended Biden against the growing dissent within the Democratic ranks, but her public stance began to shift as the situation evolved. “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” she remarked during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” a program known to be favored by Biden, just two days after he reaffirmed his commitment to the race.
Behind closed doors, however, Pelosi reportedly urged Biden to consider polling data that indicated a difficult path to victory. When Biden resisted, she brought in his longtime adviser Mike Donilon to highlight the seriousness of the situation.
“Nancy made clear that they could do this the easy way or the hard way,” a Democratic insider revealed to Politico. “She gave them three weeks of the easy way. It was about to be the hard way.”
Though Pelosi has been reticent about the nature of her private conversations, she has maintained that her primary goal was to ensure the party’s success in the upcoming election. “I never called one person. I kept true to my word. Any conversation I had, it was just going to be with him,” she told the New Yorker while acknowledging that others reached out to her during the tumultuous period.
Despite the tension, Pelosi has continued to speak highly of Biden since his exit, praising his presidency and suggesting that his legacy merits a place on Mount Rushmore. Yet, she also conceded that she was “never been that impressed with his political operation.”
In his interview, Biden remained firm in his belief that he could have gone toe-to-toe with Trump, stating that polls indicated the race “would have been down on the wire.” He also reiterated his claim that illness impacted his performance during the critical debate, saying, “I had a really, really bad day in that debate because I was sick.”
Surrounded by family in the Oval Office, Biden reflected on his decision to step down, sharing how his loved ones supported him throughout the process. “My grandchildren call me Pop, my children call me Dad. And they said they were proud and it mattered,” he said. He also spoke of his late son Beau, whose memory continues to guide his decisions. “Whenever I have a decision that’s really hard to make, I literally ask myself, what would Beau do,” Biden said, adding that Beau had urged him to stay engaged in politics.
Looking ahead, Biden expressed concern about the potential for unrest if Trump loses the election, emphasizing his commitment to supporting Harris on the campaign trail.
“I’m going to be campaigning in other states as well. I’m going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most,” he concluded.
But Harris and other prominent members of the Left might rather have Biden sit on the sidelines instead of embarrassing himself and the Democrat Party during campaign events.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
