President Joe Biden’s take on roles Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer played in him dropping out of the presidential race is one of frustration, resentment and anger, per a report.
Biden has confided in his closest aides how he feels about the three, who he feels pushed him toward leaving the race, Politico reported.
This comes from three people familiar with Biden’s current state of mind.
While on her book tour for “The Art of Power,” former House Speaker Pelosi has spoken about her part in Biden leaving behind his reelection bid.
Biden said he respects Pelosi even though he is not happy with her.
“She did what she had to do,” Biden told one of the people, referring to her loyalty to the Democratic Party. He said Pelosi “cares about the party.”
The turning point for people not supporting Biden came at the end of June when he debated former President Donald Trump and performed poorly.
Biden said Pelosi is “ruthless” in trying to keep Democrats in the White House and Trump away from it, according to a senior White House official.
“That’s who she has always been,” the person said.
Pelosi and Biden have not talked since he dropped out of the race in July. He did mention her in an interview Sunday.
“And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic,” Biden told CBS. “You’d be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say, why did so — and — and I thought it’d be a real distraction.”
As far as Obama goes, Biden is upset the former president didn’t tell Biden his concerns directly after the June debate, per Politico.
Obama didn’t push for Biden to drop out, but he also didn’t exactly encourage him to stay, the three sources said.
The relationship between the two has been tense as far as politics goes.
This became evident in 2016 when Obama favored Hillary Clinton as his successor and not Biden, his own vice president.
Biden has been in contact with Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and spoke with him the day he left the race, according to a person familiar with the phone call.
While Schumer didn’t play as big a role as Pelosi in getting him to abandon his campaign, he still played a part, according to two of the people.
“President Biden is a patriot and set an example for all Americans by once again putting his country above all else,” Schumer said in a statement. “We were all proud to work alongside him to achieve an historic legislative record that will leave him with an indelible legacy as president.”
