Hold the phone—former President Barack Obama was reportedly floored when Rep. Nancy Pelosi jumped the gun to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, the New York Post reported.
According to a revealing new book by Jonathan Karl titled "Retribution," Obama was caught off guard by Pelosi’s rapid support for Harris after President Joe Biden stepped back from his re-election bid, a move that clashed with Obama’s preference for an open nomination process.
This bombshell story unfolds with Biden’s sudden withdrawal, a moment that shook the Democratic establishment to its core.
Less than 24 hours after Biden’s announcement, Pelosi was already singing Harris’ praises, calling her “brilliantly astute” and expressing “full confidence” in her ability to take on Donald Trump.
But let’s be real—such glowing words seem more like a polished press release than a battle-tested conviction, especially when the party’s biggest players were supposedly on the same page about taking a slower approach.
Obama, a titan of Democratic politics, had been in regular contact with Pelosi before this moment, and both had reportedly agreed to hold off on any immediate endorsements.
So, imagine Obama’s surprise—nay, irritation—when Pelosi went rogue, prompting a heated phone call where his reaction was summed up as, “What the f–k did you just do?” as per Karl’s account.
That blunt question cuts through the political niceties, revealing a rare crack in the usually polished facade of party unity, and it’s hard not to wonder if Obama felt blindsided by a trusted ally.
Sources close to the situation paint a mixed picture—one describing the exchange as “good-natured ribbing,” while another sensed genuine frustration in Obama’s tone.
Pelosi, however, wasn’t backing down, reportedly telling Obama, “That train has left the station,” a clear nod to Biden’s own swift endorsement of Harris, as noted in Karl’s book.
Translation: the decision was made, and Pelosi wasn’t about to derail it, even if it meant ruffling some very prominent feathers.
Even her husband, Paul Pelosi, seemed taken aback by the move, questioning, “Kamala?” only to be met with a sharp “Don’t start with me” from Nancy, per Karl’s reporting.
Behind closed doors, the tension was palpable—Karl writes that Obama and Pelosi, two of the most influential figures in the Democratic sphere, had privately agreed Harris shouldn’t get a free pass to the nomination.
Yet, with other prominent Democrats and potential challengers quickly lining up behind Harris, Pelosi apparently felt cornered, believing she “had no choice” but to join the chorus of support.
While Obama waited days to offer his own endorsement, whispers from Biden’s camp suggest he harbored serious doubts about Harris’ ability to clinch a victory, a sentiment that adds another layer of intrigue to this Democratic drama.
Let’s not sugarcoat it— this episode exposes a messy underbelly of Democratic strategy, where even the biggest names can’t seem to sync up when the stakes are sky-high.
From Obama’s push for a fair process to Pelosi’s abrupt pivot, it’s a stark reminder that unity is often just a talking point, not a reality, in the cutthroat world of politics.
For conservatives watching from the sidelines, this kind of disarray might just be the chink in the armor needed to challenge a party that often preaches cohesion but struggles to practice it.
