President Joe Biden’s late-night speech at last week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) has highlighted deepening tensions within the Democratic Party, particularly between Biden and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The speech, delivered after 11 p.m., was a fiery critique of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but it left Biden visibly shaken. Reports suggest that upon landing in California, he appeared unsteady while disembarking Air Force One.
According to the Daily Mail, the DNC may have marked a significant rift between Biden and Pelosi, who has reportedly played a key role in pushing Biden out of the Democratic presidential race. This tension surfaced earlier when Biden, in a national interview, accused Pelosi of orchestrating his exit from the race.
The Monday night speech itself was plagued by delays and poor timing. Scheduled for 10:30 p.m., Biden didn’t begin speaking until well after 11 p.m., and by the time he finished after midnight, much of the television audience had tuned out. The Daily Mail reported that the speech’s timing had to be adjusted at the last minute, further fueling speculation of internal party conflict. The outlet also claimed to have uncovered evidence of Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering to oust Biden, allegedly threatening to publicly declare her loss of confidence in his ability to run for re-election.
The day after the convention, a letter supposedly written and signed by Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. This move, reportedly orchestrated by Pelosi, has allegedly left both Joe and Jill Biden furious, with lingering resentment that could impact their relationship with Pelosi moving forward.
However, the Biden-Pelosi feud was just one of several internal conflicts at the DNC. The following night, former President Barack Obama expressed support for Biden, but former First Lady Michelle Obama conspicuously avoided mentioning Biden in her speech, which focused on her personal experiences as a Black woman. According to the Daily Mail, this omission was intentional, as Michelle Obama had never campaigned for Biden and had no plans to speak at the DNC if he remained the party’s candidate.
The Mail also suggested that Biden’s strong endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris was partly to prevent Michelle Obama from seizing the moment and becoming the Democratic candidate. Behind the scenes, Barack Obama is reportedly content with Harris taking the nomination and was involved in efforts to encourage Biden to exit the race.
Amidst all this, Pelosi seemed to revel in the unfolding drama, reportedly enjoying Michelle Obama’s speech from her front-row seat. When asked about his relationship with Pelosi, Biden was noncommittal, simply stating, “No, I haven’t spoken to her.” The Daily Mail also noted that Pelosi and Harris have a strained relationship, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing Democratic infighting.