Pelosi Reflects on Biden’s Withdrawal from 2024 Election

In a recent interview, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shared that she has not yet had a conversation with former President Joe Biden following his choice to step back from the 2024 race.

During the interview with USA Today’s Susan Page, Pelosi was asked about her influence on Biden’s decision. She clarified, “Well, I want to clarify what you just mentioned. The talk with the president centered on understanding the poll numbers. If the public had considered the insights more broadly, perhaps they would have reached a different conclusion. It seemed like they were set in their beliefs about the polls, deciding without considering other perspectives. I didn’t come to tell them not to run; I just wanted to analyze the data together,” she explained.

Pelosi expressed her respect for Biden’s choices but admitted feeling disheartened by the lack of communication between them.

She elaborated with a touch of nostalgia, “It’s disappointing because I’ve always admired him. However, I respect his decision,” she said.

In another discussion on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” back in July 2024, Pelosi weighed in on Biden’s poor debate performance, emphasizing that the decision to run remains ultimately his. Her comments suggested that there were still doubts circulating around the former president’s commitment, despite his public assertions about remaining in the race.

Reports from that time indicated Pelosi was worried about the possibility of losing to then-President Donald Trump, which led her and some Democratic leaders to discreetly encourage Biden to resign.

Additionally, after Trump bested former Vice President Kamala Harris in the elections, Jill Biden expressed her disappointment in Pelosi, reflecting on their long friendship. “You know, that’s something I’ve been thinking about recently. We were friends for 50 years. It’s a real shame,” she mentioned in an interview.

Pelosi remarked on Biden’s recent announcement regarding his retirement plans from Congress, admitting he had given “amazing” comments about his future.

In response, Biden praised Pelosi in a statement last month, calling her “the best Speaker of the House in American history” and reflecting on their collaborations that benefited the economy and created jobs. He extended his and Jill’s good wishes to her as she moves forward.