Biden ‘Frustrated’ With Obama Over Calls to Exit 2024 Presidential Race

US President Joe Biden has grown weary of mounting pressure from some Democratic allies urging him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. According to sources reported by The New York Times, the President has become “irritated” with party leaders, notably former President Barack Obama, who is said to be involved in discussions about Biden stepping down as the Democratic nominee.

Since the first presidential debate, several lawmakers have approached Biden, imploring him to end his campaign. Despite this, Biden’s closest allies, including Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have avoided publicly criticizing the President. Biden’s campaign has consistently maintained that he remains committed to running for a second term.

The NYT report suggests Biden perceives Obama as “a puppet master behind the scenes” in these discussions about his campaign. Anonymous sources close to Biden indicate that he “has been around politics long enough to assume that the leaks appearing in the media in recent days are being coordinated to raise the pressure on him to step aside.”

On July 19, the Washington Post reported that former President Obama privately advised allies that Biden should reconsider his reelection bid. According to the report, Obama believes Biden’s chances of victory have diminished, and the 81-year-old should “seriously consider the viability of his candidacy.” The Washington Post, citing individuals familiar with Obama’s thinking, noted there was no immediate comment from Obama, who remains a significant influence within the Democratic Party.

A CNN report further details that Nancy Pelosi has also communicated to Biden that polls indicate he may not be able to defeat former President Trump, potentially harming Democrats across the political spectrum. However, Pelosi released a statement on Thursday denouncing the “feeding frenzy” from unidentified sources, claiming it “misrepresents any conversations” she had with Biden.

This ongoing tension within the Democratic Party reflects the broader uncertainties as they prepare for the 2024 election, with Biden’s determination to stay in the race clashing with concerns about his electability among some of his most influential supporters.