As First Lady Jill Biden prepares to leave the White House, she opened up in an interview with The Washington Post about the final months of President Biden’s tenure, expressing disappointment in a former ally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Biden’s remarks shed light on the behind-the-scenes drama within the Democratic Party that culminated in her husband bowing out of the 2024 presidential race.
Jill Biden described Pelosi’s role in the president’s withdrawal as a betrayal of their decades-long friendship. “We were friends for 50 years. It was disappointing,” she said, reflecting on Pelosi’s public and private calls for Biden to step aside. Pelosi’s comments on Morning Joe in July, following President Biden’s widely panned debate performance, seemed to be a turning point. While the president insisted he was staying in the race, Pelosi remarked, “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” a statement many interpreted as subtle pressure for him to drop out.
Pelosi reportedly worked with other Democratic heavyweights, including former President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to encourage Biden’s withdrawal. The Associated Press detailed a coordinated effort to convince Biden that his age and faltering campaign couldn’t withstand another match-up with Donald Trump. Pelosi later lamented that Biden didn’t exit the race earlier, suggesting it could have spared Vice President Kamala Harris from her historic defeat by President-elect Trump.
Jill Biden defended her husband’s ability to serve another term, saying, “I was confident Joe could do another four years. I mean, today, he’s still keeping a full schedule.” The president himself, however, seemed more hesitant, telling USA Today last week, “Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?”
The first lady also addressed the controversial decision to pardon their son, Hunter Biden. “Joe really wrestled with that decision,” she said, explaining that her husband initially resisted the idea. “But then I think things changed. Circumstances changed, and it became quite apparent and obvious that the Republicans weren’t going to stop.”
The Biden family’s final days in office highlight deep fractures within the Democratic Party. While Democrats like Pelosi, Obama, and Schumer worked to secure what they believed was the best chance for victory, their actions have left lingering tensions. For conservatives, the situation is a testament to the Democrats’ inability to unite behind leadership without backroom power plays and betrayal.
Pelosi’s role in this saga underscores the Democrats’ shifting loyalties. Once lauded for her political acumen, Pelosi now seems to symbolize the party’s ruthless pragmatism, even at the expense of personal alliances. Meanwhile, President Biden’s pardon of Hunter adds another layer of controversy, fueling perceptions of favoritism and further undermining confidence in Democratic leadership.
As the Bidens leave Washington, one thing is clear: the Democratic Party’s chaos is the Republican Party’s gain. The infighting, public betrayals, and questionable decisions have only solidified the GOP’s position as the party of accountability and principled leadership. Democrats, on the other hand, seem to be leaving behind a legacy of dysfunction.
