As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office, the atmosphere within the White House has turned somber as Democrat staffers and aides are grappling with the reality of Trump's imminent arrival.
As reported by NBC News, President Biden's final days are marked by a somber atmosphere and various internal and public criticisms.
President Biden delivered a farewell address from the Oval Office on January 15, 2025, summarizing his years in office amidst increasing scrutiny over his decisions and the overall effectiveness of his leadership.
This speech comes as commentators and of the nation reflect on a tenure that saw substantial internal discord within the Democratic party and national divisiveness.
NBC News pointed out that Biden's extended stay in the presidency and controversial decisions, such as the pardoning of his son, have led to significant backlash. These actions have not only strained relationships within his party but also led to criticism of Biden's respect for the rule of law.
One of Biden's most contentious acts was the pardon of his son, which critics argue undercut national stability norms.
This pardon was part of a series of decisions that have left the Democratic party fragmented and many of its members distressed over the future direction of U.S. leadership.
The discord reached high levels of the party, including notable figures such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with whom Biden has had no substantial meetings since July after she advised him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This fracture is highlighted by the lack of communication that followed significant political discourse.
Moreover, NBC News reported on Biden's considered forgiveness towards President-elect Donald Trump as a gesture of goodwill, which further complicates the public and political perception of his presidency's end.
Biden's relationship with other key figures, such as former President Barack Obama and former aides, has also deteriorated.
Notably, an absence of symbolic gestures like naming an aircraft carrier in Obama's honor, which was done for other past presidents, has signaled this cooling of relations.
Advisers Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer felt marginalized by Biden's inner circle, primarily influenced by family dynamics involving Hunter and Jill Biden, adding layers to the internal disruptions documented during the final years of Biden's administration.
First Lady Jill Biden publicly expressed disappointment in Pelosi’s actions, according to a Washington Post interview. Such statements underscore the intense personal and political fallouts that have characterized the latter part of Biden's presidency.
James Carville, a longstanding political strategist, reflected on Biden's presidency as one of the "great tragedies" of American politics.
He remarked on the unfortunate overshadowing of Biden's earlier successes by the recent controversies and political missteps.
Statements from inside the White House further paint a bleak picture, with one official describing the current mood as akin to "a morgue" — a stark metaphor for a typically vibrant center of government now enveloped in quietude and resignation as the administration winds down.
This sentiment was echoed by another White House official, who noted the difficulty in processing the end of their tenure: "It’s hard to reflect, it’s hard for it to sink in that we’re done here — until we’re done and out the gates with our stuff."