(New York) On June 8, 2019, Joe Biden posted a photo of two braided bracelets with his first name and Barack Obama’s on his Twitter account to mark the typically American holiday of Best Friends Day. Above the photo, she added this message: “Happy #BestFriendsDay to my friend Barack. »
The tweet didn’t just evoke mild reactions.
“He’s a good friend, he’s not going to endorse you for president,” joked comedian and host Tim Young to Joe Biden, who was launching his third presidential campaign that same year.
But the reaction of David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s former strategist, was, “It’s a joke, right? »
This reaction manifested itself in more ways than one. In Washington, many never believed in the “bromance” between Barack Obama and Joe Biden, an almost brotherly friendship that would have brought the two beings together on a personal level.
Also, David Axelrod’s questions proved 44’s former adviserse The President has always been at pains to hide his doubts about 46.e.
Does Barack Obama share these sentiments himself? Despite the news of June 8, 2019, Joe Biden is convinced of this today. Because, according to several American media, he suspected that his “friend” Barack Brutus was playing a game to exclude him from the race for the White House.
Photo by Yuri Kripas, Associated Press Archives
Barack Obama hugs Joe Biden during his son Beau’s funeral on June 6, 2015.
After Beau Biden’s death in May 2015, the drama became Shakespearean as the two enjoyed intense moments together. Barack Obama was invited to the funeral of Joe Biden’s eldest son, who was destined for a bright political future. .
Then he recalled the Biden “rule”: “If you need to ask for help, it’s too late. »
A private room
However, this is not the first time that Barack Obama has rejected Joe Biden from the race for the White House. As the 2016 presidential campaign approaches, 44e In several ways, the president signaled his preference for Hillary Clinton, whose personality is close to his own. He told his vice-president that he should grieve before thinking about returning to the political arena.
And he sent one of his most influential advisers, David Ploufe, to explain to him through polls that his candidacy would split the moderate vote and allow Bernie Sanders to win the Democratic nomination.
Photo by Matt Rourke, Associated Press Archives
President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton greet the crowd on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2016.
The day he announced his support for his former secretary of state, Barack Obama, was particularly commendable. “I don’t think there’s ever been anyone so fit to occupy [la présidence] “, he said.
Joe Biden, who served as vice president for seven years and chaired two important Senate committees, gave Hillary Clinton a personal slap in the face with this compliment. Four years later, when Barack Obama offered his former vice presidential support, his advisers remembered it.
I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a president today…and I know he will surround himself with talented people.
Barack Obama
After Joe Biden’s disastrous performance during the Atlanta debate, Barack Obama was quick to come to his aid. “Bad debates happen. Trust me, I know,” he wrote in X, referring to his poor performance during his first televised fight against Mitt Romney in 2012.
For the benefit of the party
Regardless, Joe Biden concluded that Barack Obama was conspiring against him. On July 11, MSNBC host and presidential confidant Joe Scarborough summed up the situation for the program’s faithful as follows: Morning Joe : “The Joe Biden campaign and many Democratic Party officials are convinced that Barack Obama is quietly working behind the scenes to plan all of this. If Joe Biden believes that, it won’t knock him out of the race any faster. »
Joe Scarborough didn’t just refer to the previous day’s article The New York Times Under the signature of actor George Clooney, he called on Joe Biden to withdraw from the race for the White House.
“All of this” also includes the role played by the animators Pot Save America, one of America’s most popular political podcasts, called for Joe Biden’s recall the day after the Atlanta debate. These four hosts — Dan Pfeiffer, Jon Favreau, John Lovett and Tommy Wheater — were all part of the Obama administration.
David Axelrod, who encouraged Joe Biden to give up a second term in 2023, is apparently included in this quartet. A former Barack Obama strategist believes the president’s advanced age and limited communication skills pose major obstacles to his reelection. Little did he know that a year later the president would show clear signs of physical and cognitive decline.
Joe Biden’s idea that Barack Obama is pulling the strings is undoubtedly paranoid. But the former president no doubt agreed with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Democrats stand to lose everything in November — the White House, the Senate and the House — if Joe Biden is the Democratic presidential nominee.
Barack Obama was willing to ignore the Biden “rule” in order to avoid this fate for his country. That didn’t stop him from paying tribute to his former right-hand man after he announced his retirement.
“Joe Biden was one of the most important American presidents and a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we are reminded again – that he is a patriot first and foremost,” he wrote at the beginning of the statement posted on the medium site.
