Amid escalating criticism from former Obama staffers and close allies, President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure to bow out of the 2024 presidential race, with reports indicating a long-standing tension between himself and former President Barack Obama, despite their historical partnership and friendship.

The friction dates back to their time on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after Obama was first elected to the Senate in 2004, as Fox News reports.

Early Tensions Between Biden and Obama

The often-tense relationship between Biden and Obama began shortly after Obama was elected to the Senate. Both served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Obama reportedly grew weary of Biden's lengthy speeches. Obama famously passed a note saying, "Shoot. Me. Now."

Their rivalry continued during the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination race. Biden's controversial comment referring to Obama as "the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" added to the friction. Although Biden apologized, the comment left a lasting mark.

Biden later dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses. However, Obama chose him as his running mate, and the pair went on to defeat Republican nominees John McCain and Sarah Palin in the 2008 election.

Disagreements in the White House

The early months of the Obama-Biden administration were marked by frequent disagreements. Obama publicly diminished Biden on several occasions, and Biden grew frustrated with Obama's cautious decision-making process. One of their significant disagreements involved sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Despite these conflicts, Obama and Biden developed a close partnership and friendship. Obama dismissed suggestions to replace Biden with Hillary Clinton in the 2012 re-election campaign and supported Biden during personal hardships, including the death of Biden's son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer.

However, tensions resurfaced when Obama convinced Biden not to seek the 2016 Democratic nomination, favoring Hillary Clinton instead. Biden later acknowledged, "The president was not encouraging" about his potential candidacy.

Obama’s Mixed Support for Biden’s Campaigns

In 2019, Obama did not immediately endorse Biden in the presidential campaign, opting to let the primary process unfold naturally. He eventually endorsed Biden in August 2020. Despite their long-standing friendship, Obama reportedly had doubts about Biden's fitness for office.

Biden frequently compared himself to Obama during his presidency, often joking, "Obama would be jealous." However, his performance in the first presidential debate last month led to renewed calls from former Obama advisers and allies for him to exit the race.

Jon Favreau, a former Obama adviser, voiced agreement with George Clooney's guest essay in the New York Times, calling for Biden to drop out. "Clooney was exactly right," Favreau stated on CNN.

Criticism From Former Obama Advisers

David Axelrod, another former Obama adviser, criticized Biden, saying he "really needs a royal flush to win this race." Axelrod emphasized Biden's age and leadership as factors impacting his candidacy, stating, "Those were painfully obvious on that debate stage. The president just … hasn't come to grips with it. He’s not winning this race."

Reports have emerged suggesting that Obama is working behind the scenes to force Biden out of the race. Obama was allegedly informed by Clooney about his guest essay before it was published.

While a source close to Obama declined to comment on these reports, they pointed to Obama's public statements supporting Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that Biden and Obama have "a close relationship."

Conclusion

The escalating criticism from former Obama staffers and allies, combined with ongoing tensions between Biden and Obama, has led to increasing calls for President Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race.

The friction between the two leaders dates back to their early days on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has persisted through various political battles and personal challenges.

As Biden faces mounting pressure and public scrutiny, the future of his candidacy remains uncertain.