US presidential elections: Joe Biden irritated with Barack Obama over pressure to quit White House race

Amid a growing chorus for him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, US President Joe Biden is reportedly perplexed and irritated by some of his Democratic allies, including former President Barack Obama, who are urging him to reconsider his election bid.

Currently isolated while recovering from COVID-19 at his Delaware beach house, Biden has grown frustrated with party leaders pushing him to step aside, according to The New York Times.

The report also stated that the 81-year-old US President sees this as an orchestrated campaign to drive him out of the race.

The chatter began after the first presidential debate between Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump. While many lawmakers have urged Biden to end his campaign, Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not publicly opposed the President.

Biden views Obama as a “puppet master behind the scenes”, noticing the former President’s lack of recent support, The New York Times quoted sources as saying. Although Biden and his team publicly express interest in continuing the campaign, sources close to him believe that he is increasingly accepting the possibility of not staying in the race.

Meanwhile, an Associated Press report stated that Nancy Pelosi has privately warned Biden that the party could lose control of the House if he doesn’t step aside.

“President Biden deserves the respect to have important family conversations with members of the caucus and colleagues in the House and Senate and Democratic leadership and not be battling leaks and press statements,” Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, Biden’s campaign co-chair, told AP.

Investigative journalist Carl Bernstein said on CNN that sources described the President as “angry” over the pressure from Democratic allies.

AP also reported that Biden might end his 2024 race even before the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago.

Despite various media reports, Biden’s journey into the 2024 presidential election will be confirmed only after his official decision.