In a plot twist that could give even the most seasoned political thriller writer a run for their money, Joe Biden’s aides found out about his decision to drop out of the 2024 re-election race through a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Yep, not even the decency to inform them face-to-face. Biden’s closest advisors were kept in the dark until the very last moment when a tweet illuminated their screens with the unexpected news.
Imagine being one of the aides on Sunday afternoon, and while most people are winding down, key White House and campaign aides are scrambling to understand why their boss is calling it quits in a manner more suited to a dramatic TV series than real life. According to a Democrat familiar with the situation, “We’re all finding out by tweet.” The confusion was palpable. “None of us understand what’s happening,” they admitted.
The 81-year-old Biden had been adamant about continuing his campaign, even in the face of growing calls from within his party to step aside. The pressure mounted after a lackluster debate performance left many questioning his viability as a candidate. But in a sudden change of heart, Biden decided to end his re-election bid, focusing instead on finishing his current term.
The abruptness of the announcement was underscored by the fact that a fundraising email for “Joe and Kamala” was sent out just minutes before the tweet went live. Talk about mixed signals! Campaign staffers were still dialing delegates, urging them to pledge support for Biden mere moments before the bombshell tweet dropped. One delegate, Nick Koenig, received such a call just thirty minutes prior to the announcement. “It’s absolutely bonkers,” Koenig remarked.
So, what sparked this dramatic turn of events? Biden reportedly worked on the announcement letter with his advisor Steve Ricchetti and chief strategist Mike Donilon from Saturday afternoon into the night. Yet, the majority of his staff remained in the dark until the final minute before the X post went live, which has since racked up over 185 million views.
In the words of Matt Walsh, this marks the “most dangerous time in modern American history”. With Biden stepping aside, the Democratic Party now faces a whirlwind of uncertainty. As Kamala Harris throws her hat into the ring, and others like RFK Jr. challenge the status quo, the stage is set for a riveting political showdown. Will this be a smooth transition or a chaotic scramble?
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