Former President Barack Obama’s frustration boiled over when Nancy Pelosi endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris just a day after President Joe Biden exited the presidential race.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Obama called Pelosi shortly after her public backing of Harris, with a source close to Pelosi summing up his reaction as, “What the f*** did you just do?” This blunt outburst, recounted in Jonathan Karl’s book Retribution, underscored Obama’s desire for a deliberate process rather than a swift anointment of Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Pelosi, unfazed by the former president’s irritation, shot back with, “That train has left the station,” signaling her belief that the decision was already made. The endorsement came as a shock to Obama, especially since the two had been in regular contact as Biden’s struggles became evident, agreeing privately to avoid immediate endorsements.
Biden’s faltering performance had set the stage for this drama, starting with a disastrous debate against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, followed by a shaky interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos. Gaffes like calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” at the NATO summit only deepened concerns about his mental sharpness.
His physical frailty became apparent after contracting COVID-19 during a Las Vegas trip, where Secret Service agents reportedly had to assist him into a vehicle en route to his Delaware vacation home. It was from there, on July 21, 2024, that Biden announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsed Harris soon after.
Pelosi’s endorsement the next day, around 1 p.m., caught many off guard, including Obama, who questioned why she broke their mutual understanding to let a broader selection process unfold. A source close to the former speaker noted Obama sounded “genuinely irritated,” though another insider described the exchange as mere good-natured ribbing.
The backdrop to this internal clash was Biden’s mounting challenges, from verbal slip-ups to visible physical decline, which culminated in his decision to step aside. By the time he endorsed Harris, the Democratic Party faced a ticking clock to unify behind a candidate.
Obama’s hesitation, according to a senior Biden adviser who also served in his administration, stemmed from doubts about Harris’s ability to secure a victory. This insider quipped, “There’s only one Black Jesus,” suggesting Obama saw himself as a singular political phenomenon not easily replicated.
Even Pelosi’s husband, Paul, expressed surprise at her decision, asking simply, “Kamala?” to which she responded, “Don’t start with me,” revealing the personal stakes and urgency behind her choice.
Despite her endorsement, Pelosi had long harbored reservations about Harris, having privately cautioned Biden in 2020 against selecting her as his running mate. Yet, with prominent Democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and potential rivals such as Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom, and Gretchen Whitmer rallying behind Harris, Pelosi saw no alternative.
The landscape had shifted decisively, as no other candidates emerged to challenge Harris, leaving Pelosi to pivot toward helping her succeed. This pragmatic turn, though not born of enthusiasm, reflected the party’s need to consolidate quickly.
Obama, too, came around, joining former First Lady Michelle Obama in officially endorsing Harris five days after Biden’s exit in a campaign video. Their eventual support, while delayed, signaled a reluctant alignment with the party’s direction under intense time pressure.
This episode, detailed in Karl’s Retribution, exposes the fractures within Democratic leadership at a critical juncture, where personal doubts and strategic disagreements collided with the urgency of the moment. It’s a reminder that even the most powerful figures can’t always steer the ship as they’d like when the current shifts.
Pelosi’s defiance of Obama’s plan for a measured process shows how quickly political calculations can override private pacts, especially when the base demands action over deliberation. One has to wonder if this rush to crown Harris will prove a unifying force or a missed chance to test the party’s depth.
In the end, the Democratic machine rolled forward with Harris at the helm, but not without revealing the behind-the-scenes jostling that could linger as a quiet liability. For a party preaching unity, these sharp exchanges hint at deeper cracks that no endorsement can fully paper over.
