Joe Biden mocked as blindsided campaign staffers say they found out about his 2024 race exit from tweets
WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden's White House and campaign staffers were caught off guard by his announcement to withdraw from the 2024 race. They reportedly learned of it through tweets.
Despite mounting pressure on the octogenarian to drop out since flunking the presidential debate last month, a number of his staffers believed he would continue in the race.
Biden announced his historic decision to exit the reelection bid on Sunday, July 21, through a lengthy statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). Shortly after, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic ticket, which she accepted, pledging to beat Donald Trump in November.
The 81-year-old did not make any public appearance after announcing his withdrawal via social media, prompting a #WhereIsJoeBiden trend with many questioning his whereabouts.
Joe Biden's campaign and White House staffers were blindsided by his exit from race
Social media was the news source for a number of White House and campaign staffers who had no idea about the President's decision to quit the race, according to the New York Post.
"He told the senior team right before. I'm sure they didn't want it to leak," a campaign insider told the outlet.
Meanwhile, another Democrat close to the campaign told Politico, "We're all finding out by tweet. None of us understand what's happening."
The Biden-Harris campaign even released a fundraising email for "Joe and Kamala" eight minutes after Biden's announcement on ending his reelection bid.
The situation was not different for the campaign workers in Delaware, the president's home state where he had been staying since the Covid-19 diagnosis. They were actively campaigning for Biden till the announcement, calling up delegates before the Democratic National Convention next month.
"I don't think a soul in Delaware knew," a Biden state official shared the shock to the New York Post.
Another White House insider said the President's junior aides were not upset about the eleventh-hour decision; instead, there was "a lot of relief that it's over".
Furthermore, senior staffers were disheartened for not counseling him against a reelection bid. "There's a lot of frustration at the senior staff who put him in this situation [and] enabled him to not have a dignified exit [from the campaign] 9 months ago," the source added.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Internet trolls Joe Biden as his staffers reportedly learned about his exit through social media
A report of his staffers learning about his decision to exit the 2024 race via tweets sparked mockery against Joe Biden.
"Did anyone tell Joe yet?" A user joked.
"Hes going to find out soon too," another said.
"Finding out just like Biden did. His handlers made the call," a third user remarked.
Finding out just like Biden did. His handlers made the call.
— Thodin (@therealthodin) July 22, 2024
"You think they’re surprised, just wait til he finds out he dropped out," read a fourth response.
"Somebody probably needs to tell Biden he dropped out," another person quipped.
"Imagine Joes surprise when he wakes up from his nap and finds out," someone else added.
You think they’re surprised, just wait til he finds out he dropped out.
— Joe Bider Ginsburg (@water4323) July 22, 2024
Somebody probably needs to tell Biden he dropped out. https://t.co/2CTA8Wu2bP
— Wire Falls (@wirefalls) July 21, 2024
Imagine Joes surprise when he wakes up from his nap and finds out.
— Bertram (Burt) Gummer🇺🇸 (@BertramGummer) July 21, 2024
"Does he know he stepped out of the race? Or are they going to gaslight him when he wakes up and say 'yes, you did step out. You just don't remember,'" an individual wrote.
"Joe didn’t even know until after he was questioned by the tweet from his staffer," read one remark.
"Haha does this surprise anybody? Biden forgot he had any staff to notify," another added.
Does he know he stepped out of the race? Or are they going to gaslight him when he wakes up and say "yes, you did step out. You just don't remember."
— Donna Anderson (@DonnaAnderson) July 21, 2024
Joe didn’t even know until after he was questioned by the tweet from his staffer
— Admiral Ackbar (@ackbar2u) July 21, 2024
Haha does this surprise anybody? Biden forgot he had any staff to notify
— OG Menace (@OgAmMenace) July 21, 2024
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