Jill Biden has publicly turned on Nancy Pelosi, criticising her “disappointing” move to oust her husband from the presidential race.
Ms Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, was instrumental in whipping up Democratic opposition to Joe Biden following his dire debate performance against Donald Trump in June.
Nancy Pelosi, pictured with daughter Christine, was friends with Jill Biden for 50 years, according to the First Lady – Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty
Mrs Biden said the intervention had been “on my mind lately”, as the first couple prepares to leave the White House following Donald Trump’s election victory over Kamala Harris in November.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships… we were friends for 50 years,” she told The Washington Post. “It was disappointing.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Mrs Biden said she “learned a lot about human nature” during her time in the White House and was “disappointed with how it [her husband’s departure from office] unfolded”.
Jill Biden told the Washington Post she felt ‘disappointed’ by the actions of Ms Pelosi – Leigh Vogel/UPI/Bloomberg
In July, Ms Pelosi refused to publicly back Mr Biden’s re-election bid on his favourite TV programme, Morning Joe, which his aides believe gave the green light to other Democrats and donors to move against him.
She is reported to have presented the US president with private polling the same month to convince him that he could not beat Mr Trump in the election.
Ahead of polling day, Mr Biden is said to have grudgingly acknowledged that the former speaker “did what she had to do” in ousting him.
However, following Mr Trump’s commanding win in November, he has repeatedly said he believes he could have beaten the Republican as he did in the 2020 election.
In a series of interviews, he claimed he “would have beaten Trump, could have beaten Trump” and that polling indicated he would have done so.
Biden is said to have acknowledged Pelosi, pictured centre, “did what she had to do” to oust him from the presidential race – Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that a rift had opened between Mr Biden and Ms Harris over his contention.
The vice president, who proved reluctant to criticise her boss during her 107-day campaign for the White House, is said to have told allies and family members she was disappointed with the claim he would have succeeded where she failed.
Figures close to Ms Harris said Mr Biden’s assertion showed the “one-sided loyalty” of their relationship.
Kirsten Allen, a spokeswoman for Ms Harris, said the pair had “developed a close working relationship as governing partners, but they have also built a strong friendship that continues today.”
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