Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, recently shared his perspective on President Joe Biden's decision not to run for reelection in the 2024 Presidential race.
As reported by The Hill, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich attributes President Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election to pressure from prominent Democrats, including the Obamas.
During an interview on "Cats Roundtable – WABC 770 AM" with John Catsimatidis, Gingrich expressed his views on the dynamics within the Democratic Party that may have influenced Biden's decision. He highlighted a perceived push by Barack and Michelle Obama since 2016 to sideline Biden from significant political opportunities.
Gingrich alleges that the Obamas played a crucial role, not just in 2016 when they supported Hillary Clinton but also in the current political scenario, effectively edging Biden out of the race strategically. The pressure seemingly culminated after Biden's underwhelming performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27, where he struggled with responses and appeared confused.
According to Gingrich, Biden was also disappointed with how events unfolded at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His speech was scheduled late in the evening, an action Gingrich interprets as almost derogatory. Following this, Biden promptly flew to California, further solidifying the former Speaker’s views about Biden feeling alienated.
Following Gingrich's observations, he noted:
I think he holds the Obamas very directly responsible. He thinks that the Obamas pushed him out of the way in 2016 for Hillary [Clinton]. And then he thinks that they sort of shoved him out [this year]. Speaker Pelosi and the Obamas were the driving force in kicking him out. He didn’t want to go.
Gingrich’s comments suggest a rift within the Democratic Party, with influential figures like Speaker Nancy Pelosi also playing a significant role in the dynamics around Biden’s presidency and his decision not to seek reelection. Gingrich also mentioned that Biden had not communicated with Pelosi following these developments, hinting at possible tensions.
The culmination of these events suggests a coordinated effort to encourage Biden to step back, particularly in light of his debate performance and the subsequent handling of his appearance at the Democratic convention.
According to Gingrich, despite being a notable figure and the incumbent president, Biden's late-night speech at the Democratic Convention conveyed a sense of betrayal from within his party.
Here are all the people who had knifed him in the back chanting, ‘Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe.’ I think he’s probably thinking to himself, ‘Wait a second. If you like me that much, how come I'm not the nominee?’ He [spoke] so late at night, it was almost insulting … And then he immediately left on an airplane and went to California.
As the political landscape shifts with Biden’s upcoming departure from electoral politics, it remains to be seen how the Democratic Party will reconfigure its strategy for the 2024 Presidential race.
This development raises questions about the internal cohesion within the Democratic Party and how it might impact their strategy and unity moving forward toward the 2024 Presidential elections.
In conclusion, Gingrich's observations provide a glimpse into the possible undercurrents influencing Biden's decision, highlighting the complex relationships and strategic decisions at play within the higher echelons of the Democratic Party.