The Democratic party is engulfed in a bitter blame game following Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. At the center of the storm is a bombshell revelation from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who says Joe Biden’s reluctance to bow out of the race in a timely manner dealt a devastating blow to the party’s chances.
“We live with what happened,” Pelosi lamented in an explosive interview with The New York Times. “Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race.” The seasoned politician argued that Biden’s early endorsement of Harris after finally dropping out “made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time.“
A Presidency Overshadowed
Joe Biden’s single term in office was marked by significant legislative achievements, most notably in his first two years with Pelosi at the helm of the House. However, doubts about his capacity to lead began to fester, exploding into public view after a disastrous first debate against Trump in June 2024.
Pelosi, along with other influential figures like former President Barack Obama, reportedly played a key role in persuading the octogenarian to relinquish his hold on the nomination. “The president has to make the decision for that to happen,” Pelosi recalled telling Biden’s team. “My concern was: this ain’t happening, and we have to make a decision for this to happen.“
An Unstoppable Trump
With Biden out of the picture and Harris struggling to gain traction, Democrats watched in horror as Trump steamrolled his way back into the White House. Pelosi dismissed the notion, advanced by Senator Bernie Sanders, that the party had “abandoned working-class people” – a charge Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison labeled “straight-up BS.”
“Guns, God and gays – that’s the way they say it. Guns, that’s an issue. Gays, that’s an issue. And now they’re making the trans issue such an important issue in their priorities, and in certain communities, what they call God, what we call a woman’s right to choose”
– Speaker Pelosi on how cultural issues drove voters to Trump
Fury and Fallout
Pelosi’s frank assessment has sent shockwaves through a party still reeling from defeat. The revelations have reportedly enraged Biden and his inner circle, who feel betrayed by senior figures like Pelosi and Obama. The former president, for his part, has kept a low profile since the election, as questions swirl about his role in pressuring Biden to step aside.
As Democrats engage in soul-searching and recriminations, one thing is abundantly clear: the scars from 2024 will not heal easily. Pelosi, now 84 years old and just elected to her 20th term in Congress, finds herself at the center of a political storm that could define her legacy and the party’s future. For a leader known for her ability to keep a fractious caucus together, the task of uniting Democrats in the face of a second Trump term may prove to be her greatest challenge yet.
The Road Ahead
With Trump back in the Oval Office and Democrats licking their wounds, the path forward for the party remains uncertain. Some argue for a return to the progressive populism championed by figures like Sanders, while others advocate for a doubling down on the center-left coalition that powered Biden to victory in 2020.
Regardless of which direction Democrats choose, one thing is certain: the ghost of Joe Biden’s fateful decision to cling to the 2024 nomination will haunt the party for years to come. As Pelosi put it, “We live with what happened.” The question now is whether Democrats can learn from their mistakes and chart a course back to power – or whether they will be consigned to another four years of watching helplessly as Trump reshapes America in his image.
