Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has made explosive claims about the events that led to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Speaking at Harvard University’s Kennedy School Institute of Politics, she described the pressure campaign from top Democratic leaders as a “firing squad,” targeting Biden in an unprecedented manner.
The “Firing Squad” That Ousted Biden
According to Jean-Pierre, Biden did not step aside voluntarily, despite his public announcement in July 2024 that it was his own decision. Instead, she claims that influential Democratic figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), orchestrated a behind-the-scenes effort to force him out. Other prominent Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former President Barack Obama, and major party donors, were also reportedly involved in the push to remove Biden.
“I had never seen anything like it before,” Jean-Pierre said. “I had never seen a party do that in the way that they did, and it was hurtful and sad to see that happening — a firing squad around a person who I believe was a true patriot.”
The pressure campaign reportedly intensified after Biden’s widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump. Following that moment, Democratic leaders, donors, and strategists quickly mobilized, urging Biden to step aside for the good of the party. Despite Biden’s insistence on staying in the race, the internal pressure became overwhelming.
How Biden Was Pushed Out – Step by Step
- The Debate Disaster – In June 2024, Biden faced off against Trump in a high-stakes debate. His performance was widely seen as weak, reigniting concerns about his age and cognitive abilities. The moment was a turning point for many within his own party.
- The Democratic Backlash – Following the debate, high-profile Democrats, including Pelosi and Schumer, began holding private discussions about whether Biden should remain the nominee. Leaks to the press suggested that some within the party believed he could not defeat Trump in November.
- Public and Private Pressure – Within days, Democratic donors and lawmakers started calling for Biden to step aside. Some members of the media also began amplifying these concerns, further isolating the president.
- Three Weeks of Convincing – According to reports, top Democrats spent nearly three weeks persuading Biden that continuing his campaign would be disastrous for the party. Behind closed doors, pressure mounted as even some of Biden’s closest allies advised him to withdraw.
- Biden’s Announcement – On July 21, 2024, Biden announced that he would not seek re-election. While he framed it as his own choice, Jean-Pierre and others suggest that the decision was anything but voluntary. This cleared the way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to take the nomination—though she ultimately lost to Trump.
Biden’s Reaction to the Betrayal
Although Biden publicly maintained that it was his decision, insiders suggest he was deeply frustrated by the party’s actions. Jean-Pierre implied that the move was unjust, arguing that Biden had achieved more in one term than many presidents did in two.
“I believe in what we were trying to get done,” Jean-Pierre said. “I would not have come back into the administration, I don’t think, for anybody else.”
Despite his loyalty to the Democratic Party, Biden reportedly felt blindsided by the coordinated effort to remove him. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), stood by him and expressed disappointment over how events unfolded.
“I think history is going to be very, very kind to Joe Biden,” Clyburn said, arguing that Biden had shown more substantive leadership than any president in recent memory.
Jean-Pierre’s remarks at Harvard were not just about Biden’s ousting but also about what she sees as a dangerous shift in political strategy within the Democratic Party. She lamented that the Democrats failed to stand united behind Biden, suggesting that their internal divisions weakened their chances in the election.
“I think it hurt us more than folks realized to have done that,” she said.
Looking ahead, the Democratic Party faces an uncertain future. With Harris’s defeat and Trump’s return to power, questions remain about who will lead the party into the 2028 election. Jean-Pierre declined to say who she believed should take the reins, but polling suggests Harris remains the frontrunner for now.
As the dust settles, one thing remains clear—Joe Biden’s political exit was not the quiet departure of a seasoned leader, but rather the result of an internal political battle that reshaped the Democratic Party’s trajectory.
