Former President Barack Obama was reportedly “not happy” with Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) swift endorsement of then–Vice President Kamala Harris and he made his displeasure known in a phone call to the former House speaker.
Pelosi had called Harris “brilliantly astute” and voiced “full confidence” that the former California senator could defeat President Trump, issuing her endorsement less than 24 hours after Joe Biden suspended his 2024 re-election campaign.
Obama, who preferred allowing “a process” to decide Trump’s Democratic challenger, phoned Pelosi soon after her announcement to express frustration, believing they had agreed to take a different approach, ABC News’ Jonathan Karl wrote in the book’Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,’ released Tuesday.
“The Obamas were not happy,” a Pelosi confidant told Karl, according to an excerpt obtained by the Daily Mail.
‘What the f**k did you do?’
“This person summed up Obama’s message to Pelosi as, essentially, ‘What the f**k did you just do?’” Karl wrote. It has been widely reported that the 44th president wanted an open convention to select the party’s nominee rather than automatically elevating Harris after Biden’s unexpected withdrawal.
Obama also reportedly had serious doubts about Harris’ competence and her ability to defeat Trump in the general election. “That train has left the station,” Pelosi reportedly told Obama during their call, Karl wrote, apparently referring to Biden’s prompt endorsement of Harris after ending his campaign.
Karl noted that both Obama and Pelosi “agreed Harris should not simply be handed the nomination unchallenged.” “Therefore, Obama and Pelosi, arguably the two most influential figures in the Democratic Party had privately agreed to abstain from making any endorsements,” Karl explained.
The two had been “in regular communication” in the days before Biden’s July 21, 2024, withdrawal announcement, which is why Obama was reportedly stunned by Pelosi’s sudden decision to back Harris.
A source close to Obama described the conversation as “’good-natured ribbing,’ rather than heated,” Karl wrote.
“The former president wanted to know what had happened. Why had Pelosi issued a statement endorsing Harris so soon? Hadn’t he and Pelosi agreed days earlier that party leaders anointing the vice president as Biden’s replacement would be a mistake?” Karl added. Still, a source close to Pelosi felt that Obama sounded “genuinely irritated” during the call.
‘Obama needs to move on’
Netizens also posted their comments on this controversy. A user noted, “Obama needs to move on. Not relevant anymore and he was a horrible POTUS. That is the facts. People wanted him because he was half black, but did nothing for them.”
Another claimed, “Pelosi didn’t consult Obama because she no longer sees him as the central authority. That’s telling.”
“Nothing says teamwork like backstabbing in record time,” noted a netizen.
“It is disappointing to see President Obama letting personal irritation interfere with political unity. In a critical moment, leadership should be about upholding agreements and showing loyalty, not letting quick endorsements become a source of division. True leaders put the party and country’s interests above their own frustrations,” added a user.
“What kind of oligarch he is,” questioned a user. “Who cares about these losers,” said another.