Joe Biden refused to speak with Barack Obama for weeks around exit from 2024 race

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Joe Biden avoided speaking with Former President Barack Obama for several weeks before and after withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.

According to ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl’s book ‘Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America’, Obama tried to reach Biden for nearly two weeks before he dropped out in July, but Biden did not return his calls.

Even after ending his campaign, Biden continued to keep his distance for another month. As per The New York Post, Biden and Obama’s relationship was complicated. Biden often felt overshadowed by Obama’s immense popularity, which may have caused tension between the two leaders.

New book sheds light on Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s complicated political relationship

Jonathan Karl's book, published by The Dispatch on Friday, October 24, offers insight into Biden and Obama’s professional dynamic over the years. “Obama had been trying to get in touch with Biden for about two weeks, but his calls had not been returned,” Karl wrote.

The book also describes the tense 48 hours before Biden announced he was ending his campaign. “Obama reached out again after Biden suspended his campaign, but the two men would not end up speaking until shortly before the Democratic National Convention four weeks later.” Neither Biden’s nor Obama’s representatives responded to requests for comment.

Karl also noted that Biden often felt overshadowed by the 44th president’s influence. One White House official told The Post, “Obama caused tension when he would visit the White House because he operated as if he still ran it. He made Biden feel secondary in the room even when staffers were present.”

The book portrays Biden’s relationship with Obama as “complex.” Karl wrote that Biden also ignored calls from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was leading Democratic efforts to persuade him to step aside. Instead, Biden relied primarily on his family and close aides while making the final decision to withdraw from the race.

Kamala Harris stayed silent to avoid misunderstandings during Joe Biden’s exit

According to Karl, Vice President Kamala Harris refused to call lawmakers on Biden’s behalf. “Calls to lawmakers, Harris believed, could be misinterpreted as the early stages of an effort to secure the nomination for herself,” he wrote. 

“If she called Democratic members, those members could later disclose that they had spoken to her and misrepresent the purpose of the call,” Karl added.

The book says Harris warned that without a quick endorsement—something Biden’s team had planned to do later—other Democrats might try to jump into the race. Just 27 minutes after ending his campaign, Biden endorsed Harris.