After a Fall, Pelosi Concedes Strained Ties With the Bidens
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has acknowledged the rift between herself and the Biden family, revealing that she has not spoken to either former President Joe Biden or former First Lady Jill Biden since Biden exited the 2024 presidential race.
Last July, Biden made headlines by stepping aside from the race following widespread calls from Democratic leaders in the wake of a poorly received debate performance against then-candidate and now-President Donald Trump.
Pelosi was considered a central player in the movement among Democrats to urge Biden to bow out. According to Fox News, the fallout from that decision has led to ongoing tension between Pelosi and the Bidens.
During an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Pelosi was asked about Biden’s lingering belief—stated even in the final stretch of his presidency—that he could have won a second term if not for the internal party pressure to withdraw.
“Well, all I know is that we won a seat in the house. We did not lose any seats,” Pelosi said. “You know, people were like, ‘Oh, the Democrats lost!’ No, we did not. I think it would have been quite different with President Biden at the top of the ticket.”
Mitchell brought up a Washington Post interview in which Jill Biden voiced her frustration with Pelosi’s role in her husband’s political departure. Jill Biden said Pelosi’s actions had been weighing on her: “We were friends for 50 years. It was disappointing.”
Mitchell then asked, “Is there any way to patch that up? Have you spoken to her?”
Pelosi responded, “Well, I certainly hope so. No, I haven’t [spoken to Jill Biden], but the fact is that we’re all on a mission for the American people, for the American people, for America’s working families.”
Further revelations from a new book shed more light on Pelosi’s involvement behind the scenes—particularly her efforts to block then-Vice President Kamala Harris from becoming the Democratic nominee.
Fox News host Jesse Watters cited Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle For the White House, a book by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, which describes Pelosi’s reactions following Biden’s debate with Trump.
Watters shared a clip of Parnes explaining Pelosi’s concerns: “She watches the debate, she’s unhappy and she thinks that she doesn’t want Democrats to rush into anything in that moment because she thinks if they rush him out then Kamala is going to be in and she does not think that Kamala Harris can win. She’s in a pickle in that moment.”
Allen, in another clip, added: “Her thinking was Biden had to get out and Harris was a disaster and what she was trying to do was get Biden out in time to the Democrats could choose someone other than Harris.”
“Kamala won’t be happy when she sees this, but nobody is more upset with Pelosi than Joe Biden,” Watters commented. He quoted the book, saying: “Biden was with his friends on Air Force One and started naming the people he would never forgive for their betrayal. The first name out of his mouth – Nancy Pelosi. Biden and Pelosi may never talk again.”
Watters concluded: “But Pelosi was right, Biden did not have what it takes and neither did Kamala. She spent three months and $2 billion crashing and burning and the whole time she thought she was winning.”
The book also claims Pelosi secretly advised Biden not to debate Trump at all.
In the final days leading up to Biden’s decision to leave the race, tensions reportedly escalated between his inner circle and top Democratic Party figures, Pelosi included.
Biden’s faltering debate performance ultimately shook confidence among party leaders, which contributed to his decision to end his campaign.