Pelosi Criticizes Biden's Political Operation as Unimpressive

In a candid interview with The New Yorker, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) openly criticized President Joe Biden’s political strategy, admitting that she has “never been that impressed” with his operation. Her comments come amid a significant reshuffle in the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential ticket following Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

During the interview with editor David Remnick, Pelosi reflected on her recent appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where she pledged support for Biden’s decision about his political future despite his ongoing campaign at the time. Remnick noted that Pelosi’s remarks on the show gave others the “space” to urge Biden to end his 2024 bid after a lackluster debate performance. Though Biden had garnered more than 14 million primary votes, he eventually bowed out due to mounting pressure from allies, making way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.

Pressed by Remnick for more details about her stance on “Morning Joe,” Pelosi offered a frank response. “Yeah, but I’m trying to think of why you’re even asking it, because, you know, I’m not going to answer it the way that you want,” Pelosi replied, acknowledging that her comments on the show were unplanned.

Remnick suggested Pelosi empathized with Biden’s struggles, prompting her to express her concerns more freely. “I’ve never been that impressed with his political operation,” Pelosi said. “They won the White House. Bravo. But my concern was: this ain’t happening, and we have to make a decision for this to happen.”

Pelosi insisted she never actively pushed for Biden’s exit, maintaining that any discussions about his campaign were kept between her and the president. “I never called one person,” she emphasized. “Any conversation I had, it was just going to be with him.”

In a CBS interview aired last weekend, Pelosi denied being a “leader of any pressure party” against Biden, reiterating that she did not contact anyone to influence his decision. Despite rumors of Biden’s frustration with her, Pelosi suggested in the interview that his likeness should be added to Mount Rushmore.

While numerous Democrats publicly called for Biden to step aside, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) refrained from making such statements. However, according to CNN, Pelosi privately informed Biden that polls indicated he could not defeat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election and that his continued candidacy might negatively impact other Democratic candidates in down-ticket races.

“They said I was burning up the lines, I was talking to Chuck [Schumer]. I didn’t talk to Chuck at all,” Pelosi clarified to Remnick. “People were calling me saying that there was a challenge there. So there had to be a change in the leadership of the campaign, or what would come next.”

Pelosi admitted she has not communicated with Biden since he announced his withdrawal from the race. When asked about the future of their relationship, she expressed hope but uncertainty. “I hope so,” she said. “I pray so. I cry so.”

Ultimately, Pelosi’s priority remains clear: preventing Trump from returning to the White House. As the Democratic Party navigates these changes, Pelosi’s insights highlight the challenges and strategic considerations facing the party in the lead-up to the 2024 election.

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