Jill Biden Discusses Relationship With Pelosi
The final chapter of the Biden presidency is unfolding with a mix of reflection, disappointment, and political maneuvering, as First Lady Jill Biden’s latest remarks shed light on the dramatic sequence of events that led to President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
In a candid interview with The Washington Post, Jill Biden admitted to feeling “disappointed” with the role that longtime family friend and political ally, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, played in the decision.
After a disastrous debate performance against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in June, Joe Biden, 82, initially vowed to remain in the race. However, mounting pressure from top Democrats—including a pivotal intervention by Pelosi—ultimately led him to bow out in July. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering has since emerged as one of the most striking political dramas of the Biden administration’s final year.
Jill Biden, reflecting on Pelosi’s actions, noted, “We were friends for 50 years… It was disappointing.” While choosing her words carefully, the First Lady hinted at a deeper sense of betrayal. “I learned a lot about human nature,” she added, a veiled reference to the political calculations that eclipsed decades of personal and professional camaraderie.
🚨Jill Biden TEARS into Nancy Pelosi, accusing her of leading the coup to push Joe Biden out of the 2024 presidential race.
“We were friends for 50 years.. It was disappointing.” pic.twitter.com/JzNjJk8OWj
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 15, 2025
Reports at the time revealed that Pelosi played the role of “bad cop” in persuading Biden to step aside, even threatening to release internal polling data that indicated the president’s chances against Trump were slim.
Pelosi later endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination, a decision she framed as a necessary step to preserve Biden’s legacy. “I think his legacy had to be protected,” Pelosi said in defense of her actions.
The fallout appears to have strained relationships beyond repair. The Bidens and Pelosi are not believed to have reconciled, and the former president has publicly maintained that he could have defeated Trump if given the chance. “I think yes,” Biden told USA Today, projecting confidence despite the circumstances that forced his exit.
Meanwhile, Jill Biden’s comments offered a glimpse of grace under pressure. When asked about a friendly exchange with Trump at the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris, she emphasized the importance of civility, saying, “What would be the point of nastiness?”