Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s Epic Feud

Former President Barack Obama‘s charisma and renowned oratorical skills were no match for former President Joe Biden‘s seasoned expertise and determination, which is often mistaken for stubbornness, according to a new book set for release at the end of the month.

ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl has authored a revealing book on the past year in the White House.

It centers on Biden’s abrupt exit from the race last summer, Kamala Harris stepping in, and ultimately losing to a deeply controversial and scandal-ridden Donald Trump. Excerpts released offer insight into the rift between Joe Biden and his former partner and close friend, Barack Obama.

The Frozen Relationship Between Biden And Obama

Karl recounts that Obama attempted to contact Biden repeatedly last summer, but Biden avoided all overtures. Once Biden decided against running for reelection, Obama reached out again, yet Biden continued to refuse engagement. This avoidance marks the turning point in their previously close relationship.

Karl explains that Biden was wounded and disillusioned by Obama’s actions, especially his decision to support George Clooney‘s scathing op-ed in The New York Times.

In a fit of anger, the actor — lacking political expertise — demanded Biden withdraw after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump.

Biden could not forgive Obama for endorsing Clooney’s call to remove him and damage his legacy. According to the author, relations between Biden and Obama shifted from cool to outright frozen. They met briefly before the Democratic Convention, but the friendship had vanished.

Karl writes in the upcoming book Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America: “Obama had been trying to get in touch with Biden for about two weeks, but his calls had not been returned.”

Tensions In The Oval Office

The author delved into great detail explaining why Biden’s disdain for Obama grew, even when they were considered friends. Biden was never comfortable having Obama around in the White House; there was tension.

According to the author, when Obama came to the White House for events or to work on ad campaigns, he behaved as if he were still president, the one running the show. He made Biden feel somewhat powerless and secondary in his own Oval Office.

A source told The New York Post: “Obama caused tension when he would visit the White House because he operated as if he still ran it.”“He made Biden feel secondary in the room even when staffers were present.”

Dodging Pelosi And Harris’s Calls

According to Karl, Biden also ignored persistent calls from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the driving force trying to push him out of the race. Biden also clashed with his Vice President, Kamala Harris. He believed Harris seldom responded to his outreach to Congressional members when he needed their backing to remain in the contest.

The journalist shared: “Calls to lawmakers, Harris believed, could be misinterpreted as the early stages of an effort to secure the nomination for herself. If she called Democratic members, those members could later disclose that they had spoken to her and misrepresent the purpose of the call.”

The Endorsement

Nonetheless, Biden swallowed his pride, and less than 27 minutes after Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the presidency, Biden endorsed her and threw his weight, knowledge, and experience behind her.

The reporter shared about Harris’s insistence: “It needed to come immediately. Otherwise, she argued, Biden would be opening the door to an ugly fight for the nomination.”

This obviously was an attempt to fill the void, but she ultimately lost the race to Donald Trump.