New reports indicate President Joe Biden will skip former President Barack Obama's speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
The incumbent Democrat, who is scheduled to address convention attendees on Monday, “harbors resentment” against his fellow Democrats. Biden ended his bid for reelection on July 21 after months of mounting concern about his viability boiled over following his weak debate performance in late June and surging Republican support for President Donald Trump after the July 13 assassination attempt.
Biden served as Obama’s vice president from January 2009 to January 2017. Despite their formerly close ties, Biden is not expected to stay in Chicago for Obama’s DNC address on Tuesday, per The Guardian.
According to POLITICO, “Biden has told his closest aides and associates that he is coming to terms with his decision to bow out of the presidential race last month, but still harbors some frustration toward the members of his own party he believes pushed him out.”
“President Joe Biden is frustrated that Barack Obama wouldn’t tell him to his face that he should leave the race,” the outlet reported on Aug. 14. “He’s angry with Nancy Pelosi and views her as ruthless for ushering him out the door. And he’s still miffed at the role Chuck Schumer played, too.”
Biden will deliver his keynote speech roughly one month after ending his 2024 campaign.
“Biden, as a sitting president who wanted another term, will be in the unusual position of celebrating his own accomplishments while trying to persuade Americans to pick another Democrat for the White House,” reports Axios. “Democrats want Biden to focus on his legislative legacy, including the passage of a bipartisan infrastructure law, a massive climate and health care bill, and the Chips and Science Act.”
In addition to Biden, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia are also scheduled to speak during the convention's first day.
Other Democrats have also opted to skip their party’s convention.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman said he will not attend the four-day event so that he can spend time with his children before they go back to school, per The Daily Mail.
Montana Senator Jon Tester, whose seat is considered vulnerable this year, will also stay away from Chicago during the political gathering. Tester has not endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, the current Democratic presidential nominee. A spokesperson for Tester’s re-election campaign told Fox News that the senator plans "to spend his August farming and meeting face to face with Montanans."
Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada will also skip the DNC. Like Tester, they are also considered to be vulnerable during the upcoming election. Unlike Tester, Brown and Rosen have both endorsed Harris.
