Nancy Pelosi Defends Role in Biden’s Withdrawal, Acknowledges Rift with Bidens
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is publicly defending her influential role in former President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race—though she admits she hasn’t spoken to either Joe or Jill Biden since the fallout.
Biden stunned the political world last July by exiting the race under mounting pressure from Democratic leaders after a disastrous debate performance against then-former President Donald Trump. It was a historic decision that reshaped the Democratic primary—and one Pelosi was widely believed to have helped orchestrate.
Since then, the relationship between the Bidens and Pelosi has grown tense, according to reports cited by Fox News. During an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Pelosi was pressed about Biden’s lingering belief that he could have defeated Trump had he stayed in the race.
“All I know is we gained a seat in the House. We didn’t lose any,” Pelosi said, brushing aside claims that Democrats were hurt by Biden’s exit. “People say, ‘Oh, the Democrats lost!’ No, we didn’t. I think things would have gone very differently with President Biden still at the top of the ticket.”
Mitchell also brought up Jill Biden’s recent comments to The Washington Post, where the former First Lady admitted she was “disappointed” by Pelosi’s role in the political upheaval. “We were friends for 50 years,” Jill said. “It was disappointing.”
Asked whether there was any hope of reconciliation, Pelosi responded, “I certainly hope so. No, I haven’t spoken to her—but the fact is, we’re all on a mission for the American people, for working families.”
Meanwhile, a new book, Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, reveals even more about Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering. According to the authors, Pelosi was deeply concerned not just about Biden’s viability but also about then–Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in as the nominee.
“She watches the debate, she’s unhappy,” co-author Parnes explained in a recent interview. “She thinks Democrats shouldn’t rush Biden out too fast because she doesn’t believe Kamala Harris can win. She’s in a real bind.”
Allen added: “Pelosi believed Biden had to go—but also that Harris couldn’t carry the ticket. Her strategy was to push him out early enough that Democrats could pick someone else.”
Fox News host Jesse Watters emphasized just how bitter the fallout has been. Quoting from the book, Watters said that after Biden stepped aside, he told friends aboard Air Force One that he would “never forgive” those who betrayed him. The first name he mentioned? Nancy Pelosi.
Watters concluded bluntly: “Pelosi was right—Biden didn’t have what it takes. Neither did Kamala. She spent $2 billion over three months burning out while thinking she was winning. Meanwhile, Pelosi was trying to keep her off the ticket entirely.”
The book also claims Pelosi privately urged Biden not to debate Trump at all—a warning that went unheeded and may have sealed his political fate.
As Biden’s campaign unraveled, tensions boiled over between his team and top Democratic leaders—including Pelosi—highlighting the deep divisions that plagued the party in the final days before Biden’s withdrawal.
