Obama ‘Pushed’ Schumer to End Biden’s Presidency?

Barack Obama, once Joe Biden’s political ally, reportedly urged Chuck Schumer to convince the president to step aside ahead of the 2024 election. Sources close to the discussion say Obama believed Biden had little chance of winning against Donald Trump.

According to The New York Times, Obama approached Schumer in late June 2024, after Biden’s poor debate performance cast doubt on his re-election prospects. Obama’s reasoning was blunt: “Joe won’t listen to me,” he reportedly told Schumer, citing lingering tensions from when Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton over Biden in 2016.

Schumer, initially supportive of Biden’s second term, began reconsidering after Democratic senators voiced fears about their own re-election chances. Concerns over Biden’s age and cognitive sharpness dominated the political landscape, fueling internal debates about whether he should run at all.

“Privately, most of us agreed: Joe wasn’t the man for the job,” said a senior Democratic aide, speaking anonymously. “But nobody wanted to be the one to say it out loud.”

By July, frustration boiled over. In a private meeting with Biden’s staff, Democratic senators warned they wouldn’t stay silent forever. “If there’s a secret ballot,” Schumer allegedly told Biden, “you’d get at most five votes of support.”

On July 13, Schumer visited Biden’s Delaware beach house to deliver the message personally. Schumer’s plea was straightforward: step aside to give Vice President Kamala Harris a shot. He cited polling that gave Biden only a 5% chance of beating Trump.

“It’s not about you, Mr. President,” Schumer reportedly said. “It’s about the country. We can’t risk another term of Trump.”

The conversation, lasting just under an hour, was reportedly tense but respectful. Biden expressed skepticism about Harris’s chances, interrupting twice to ask, “Do you really think Kamala can win?” Schumer’s reply was measured: “I don’t know. But at least she has a chance.”

One week later, on July 21, Biden announced his withdrawal from the race. The move stunned Washington and sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates disputed claims that Biden was unaware of his faltering campaign. “The President was fully briefed on all polling and strategy. Any suggestion otherwise is false,” Bates said in a statement.

Yet, insiders suggest Biden’s aides shielded him from the worst of the numbers. “He was blindsided,” one Democratic strategist said.

Schumer’s final words to Biden struck a deeply personal chord. “You didn’t get into politics for power. You did it to make a difference,” Schumer said, referencing their shared legislative achievements.

As Schumer left, Biden reportedly placed his hands on the senator’s shoulders and said, “You’ve got bigger balls than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Tears flowed as Schumer returned to his car, overwhelmed by the weight of their conversation. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he later told aides.

Though reluctant, Biden’s exit paved the way for Harris to lead the ticket. Democrats hoped her fresh campaign could revitalize the party. Whether it would be enough to stop Trump, however, remained the unanswered question.