Democratic Party operatives at the highest levels threatened to forcibly remove Joe Biden from office unless he stepped down, as part of a well-orchestrated “palace coup” to stop the president from seeking re-election. Despite pressure from party elite, Biden resisted the move every step of the way, displaying anger, paranoia, and frustration. The plan to remove Biden from the race also involved allowing him to debate Donald Trump on live TV in Atlanta, where Biden appeared confused and struggled. Calls for him to bow out mounted, prompting party bigwigs to threaten to invoke the 25th Amendment to force him to step down.
Following Biden’s announcement that he would drop out of the race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president, Democratic delegates will likely be encouraged to instead back Arizona senator Mark Kelly at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Some notable holdouts, including former President Barack Obama, have not yet endorsed Harris as Biden’s successor. Hunter Biden, the president’s son, became more involved in his father’s day-to-day business following the debate and expressed concerns about his father being set up by party officials. Biden’s own staff were caught off guard by the decision to pull out of the race, which had been known since at least Tuesday.
Many were shocked by the letter posted on Biden’s social media account, as it was typed on his private letterhead rather than White House notepaper and signed electronically. Democratic insiders have reportedly known for at least two years about Biden’s declining health and cognitive abilities, with one source recalling a meeting with Biden where he was just repeating slogans and seemed confused. Despite his insistence on continuing in the race, pressure from party officials and the threat of invoking the 25th Amendment ultimately led to Biden’s decision to drop out and endorse Harris as his successor.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the party faces uncertainty as they navigate uncharted waters without Biden as their candidate. Hunter Biden’s increased involvement in his father’s affairs and concerns about the party’s motives for pushing Biden out indicate a level of distrust among the Biden family and their inner circle. The decision to remove Biden from the race was part of an elaborate strategy that had been in place for weeks, culminating in the dramatic announcement and endorsement of Kamala Harris. The shockwave caused by Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Harris has left many within the party reeling and uncertain about the future of the campaign.
