Nancy Pelosi Admits No Communication with Joe Biden Since His Decision to Withdraw from Presidential Race

 

Nancy Pelosi has revealed that she has not spoken to Joe Biden since her critical intervention in July led to his decision to step out of the 2024 presidential race. This decision came after Biden’s poor performance during a debate against Donald Trump, which raised concerns about his mental sharpness.

In an interview with Jonathan Freedland on the Politics Weekly America podcast, the former House Speaker shared that while she considers Biden a long-time friend and political ally, her decision to step in was based on political strategy. Pelosi emphasized that her move was driven by the need to protect Biden's legacy. She stated, "I think his legacy had to be protected. I didn’t see that happening with the election course it was on."

Pelosi admitted that some within Biden’s campaign might still hold grudges over her role in limiting his presidency to one term. However, she stood by her decision, citing the risk that a Trump victory would also tarnish Biden’s legacy.

Pelosi has been a powerful figure throughout Biden’s administration, helping pass key legislation on infrastructure and climate. She had previously signaled that Biden should reconsider his re-election bid when polls showed Trump outperforming him. Following Biden’s withdrawal, Pelosi advocated for Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate and celebrated Harris’s choice of Tim Walz as her running mate.

Pelosi is no stranger to political confrontation, particularly with Donald Trump. She has consistently criticized Trump’s policies and rhetoric, including her iconic moment of tearing up his State of the Union speech in 2020. She also expressed concerns about Trump’s incitement of political violence, noting the aftermath of his inflammatory remarks, such as the attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi.

In her new book The Art of Power, Pelosi reflects on her political career, being the first female Speaker of the House, and her optimism about Kamala Harris's historic candidacy. She also emphasized that the gap in gender support for Harris versus Trump stems from stark policy differences, especially concerning women’s rights.

Pelosi reiterated the importance of Democrats winning the House in 2024 to prevent a repeat of the January 6 insurrection and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Expressing concern about Trump’s influence, she referred to him as a “fascist to the core,” aligning with sentiments recently shared by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.