Former President Barack Obama reportedly blew a gasket when Rep. Nancy Pelosi jumped the gun to endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee after Joe Biden stepped aside.
The New York Post reported that a behind-the-scenes clash erupted between two Democratic heavyweights when Pelosi’s rapid support for Harris clashed with Obama’s desire for a more open selection process, as revealed in Jonathan Karl’s new book “Retribution.”
On July 21, 2024, Biden announced he was ending his re-election bid, a move that shook the Democratic Party to its core.
Within 24 hours, Pelosi threw her weight behind Harris, a decision that caught many off guard, including her own husband, Paul, who reportedly questioned her with a simple, “Kamala?”
Pelosi, never one to mince words, shot back with, “Don’t start with me,” as noted by Jonathan Karl in “Retribution.” That little exchange hints at the internal shockwaves her choice created, even at home.
Meanwhile, Obama, who had been in close contact with Pelosi leading up to Biden’s withdrawal, was under the impression they’d agreed to hold off on any immediate endorsements.
When Obama got wind of Pelosi’s move, he didn’t waste time picking up the phone to let her know exactly how he felt.
A confidant of Pelosi’s told Jonathan Karl that Obama’s message boiled down to, “What the f–k did you just do?” That’s not the polished rhetoric we’re used to from the former president, but it shows just how much this blindsided him.
Sources close to the situation paint a mixed picture—one near Obama called it “good-natured ribbing,” while another tied to Pelosi sensed genuine irritation in his tone.
Obama’s frustration wasn’t just about being caught off guard; he had a different vision for how the Democrats should pick their next leader.
He favored a more deliberative process, hoping for an open convention to weigh all options rather than crowning Harris without a fight—a stance that contrasts sharply with the quick endorsements from Pelosi, Biden, and other big names like the Clintons.
Yet, with no other contenders stepping up and Harris emerging as the de facto choice, Pelosi likely felt the momentum was unstoppable, nudging her to join the chorus of support.
Obama’s hesitation wasn’t without reason; whispers from those in the know suggest he harbored doubts about Harris’s ability to stand toe-to-toe with a formidable Republican opponent.
While Pelosi publicly praised Harris as “brilliantly astute” with “full confidence” in her potential to win, as quoted by Jonathan Karl in “Retribution,” Obama took five days to offer his own endorsement—a delay some interpret as a lack of faith.
That gap in timing speaks volumes, especially in a party often criticized by conservatives for prioritizing optics over substance, leaving one to wonder if Obama’s instincts were onto something or if Pelosi’s gamble will prove the wiser bet.