Biden may snub Obama and Harris' DNC speeches as he still nurses resentment at being ousted as nominee
WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden has been nursing his resentment for allegedly being removed from the top of the Democratic ticket, and it may come to a head at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, reported The Daily Beast.
According to the outlet, the united front being portrayed by the Democrats in public may not be an accurate projection of the situation within, as incumbent Biden lost his primetime closing spot at the DNC on Thursday, August 23.
While he was looking forward to the moment before suspending his reelection campaign, he has now been assigned the curtain-raiser speech on the opening night, August 19, as shared on 'CBS Mornings' on Wednesday, August 14.
President Biden, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Gov. Tim Walz and VP Kamala Harris are all slated to speak at the DNC in Chicago next week.
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 14, 2024
Watch our CBS News coverage starting Monday. https://t.co/9zCKasfRic pic.twitter.com/ZKBvNhw2xz
Joe Biden may not stay through the entire DNC
Biden “won’t be sticking around for the rest of the week’s festivities," claimed the Politico Playbook, as the Democrats have effectively decided to move forward without him.
If that happens, Biden would miss the speech of former President Barack Obama, whom he served for two terms as VP, and reportedly did not stand up for him after he was criticized following his abysmal debate performance against former President and GOP nominee Donald Trump in June.
He would also miss on the opportunity to symbolically hand over the 2024 presidential election torch to his VP Kamala Harris, whom he endorsed after leaving the race on July 21.
Comments from the White House over Biden's DNC schedule
The White House has not clarified the plans of the incumbent to the media and simply stated at a press briefing that Biden will be present to deliver his address at the convention.
"He’s looking forward to, as he tends to do, speak directly to the American people, talk about the moment that we’re at, what’s at stake, and continue to talk about an issue that is incredibly important to him, which is unity, making sure that we’re unified and we continue to do the work that the president has been successful in doing in the past three and a half years,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre of Biden's plans for the event.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates withheld comments on the Politico report, telling The Daily Beast on Wednesday, "We do not have schedule information to provide about next week yet, but can keep you posted for when we do."
