Mike Donilon, a former senior adviser to President Biden, expressed his disapproval of the Democrats’ choice to push Biden out of the running for the 2024 election during a recent event. He labeled the decision as “undemocratic” and a “betrayal,” suggesting it could cost the party the presidency.
Donilon remarked, “I thought it was dishonest, especially in light of what has occurred within the party. It felt like a betrayal of the president and disregarded the will of the Democratic primary voters.”
While participating in a panel at USC’s Center for the Political Future, Donilon was prompted by host Erex Michelson about the circumstances leading to Biden’s withdrawal. He criticized the advisors who suggested Biden resign from the campaign, expressing disbelief at the party’s decision-making process.
“I thought the Democratic Party had lost its mind. That’s how I felt,” Donilon stated.
Several Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, allegedly urged Biden to exit the race following a poor performance during the June 2024 debate against Donald Trump.
Donilon continued, emphasizing his belief that Biden was the most suitable candidate for the presidency and could have been the best president. He pointed out that Biden’s approval rating was still nearly even with Trump’s, claiming it was unprecedented for a candidate to be replaced so close to the election while maintaining such narrow poll margins.
“There was a perception that he was incapable of fulfilling his duties,” Donilon noted, while a former aide countered that there had been no significant failures during Biden’s presidency.
He also highlighted that Biden was the only candidate to successfully defeat Trump, urging that he should have remained in the race. “In my view, only Joe Biden has managed to beat him,” Donilon argued.
As reported previously, Biden believed he could have continued to compete effectively against Trump if he had stayed in the race.
Donilon further criticized the strategy of launching a new Democratic campaign only months before the election, deeming it “politically stupid.” While he acknowledged that Kamala Harris had run a strong campaign, he felt that such a late start would not be a sound decision.
