It turns out that even political heavyweights can have disagreements behind closed doors. A new book is shedding light on a reported rift between former President Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi following Kamala Harris’s swift endorsement for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.
Obama’s Displeasure with a Quick Endorsement
According to Jonathan Karl’s new book, “Retribution,” Obama was reportedly unhappy with Pelosi’s decision to enthusiastically back Kamala Harris just 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race on July 21, 2024. Obama, it’s claimed, preferred the Democratic Party to go through a primary “process” rather than hand the nomination to Harris unchallenged, even with Biden’s endorsement.
An excerpt from the book, as reported by the Daily Mail, quotes a source summing up Obama’s alleged message to Pelosi as, “What the f–k did you just do?” Karl, an ABC News correspondent, suggests that Obama felt blindsided, especially since he and Pelosi had been in regular communication as Biden’s re-election prospects seemed uncertain. They had reportedly agreed that Harris shouldn’t be handed the nomination without any challenge.
Differing Accounts of the Conversation
However, not everyone agrees on Obama’s reaction. A source close to Obama pushed back against the narrative, telling Karl that the former president wasn’t truly angry and described the conversation with Pelosi as “good-natured ribbing.” Pelosi, on the other hand, reportedly recalled the exchange differently, believing Obama was genuinely irritated. She apparently told Obama, “That train has left the station,” referencing Biden’s endorsement of Harris.
The book also touches on doubts some had about Harris’s ability to win the election, which she ultimately did not. A senior advisor to President Biden, who also worked with Obama, suggested to Karl that Obama’s reluctance stemmed from the unique position of Obama as the nation’s first Black president, implying a concern about how a Black woman’s nomination would be perceived in comparison.
Pelosi’s Position and Wider Endorsements
Ironically, the book notes that Pelosi herself had privately expressed reservations about Biden choosing Harris as his running mate in 2020. Despite this, Karl writes that Pelosi felt she had no other choice but to support Harris once she was the sole viable candidate. Many other prominent Democrats, including the Clintons and prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, and Gretchen Whitmer, also quickly endorsed Harris.
Ultimately, Barack and Michelle Obama publicly endorsed Kamala Harris in a campaign video nearly a week after Biden’s withdrawal. During a recent talk, Harris herself addressed the lack of a primary, questioning how it could have realistically happened in the short timeframe available.
- A new book claims Barack Obama was unhappy with Nancy Pelosi’s swift endorsement of Kamala Harris for president.
- Obama reportedly wanted a primary process instead of an unchallenged nomination.
- Sources offer conflicting accounts of Obama’s reaction, ranging from anger to good-natured ribbing.
- Pelosi reportedly felt she had no choice but to endorse Harris.
- Many other prominent Democrats also endorsed Harris quickly.
What do you think about Obama’s alleged reaction to Pelosi’s endorsement? Was it justified? Share your views in the comments below!