A bombshell new book is set to send shockwaves through Washington DC, painting a damning portrait of internal dysfunction and doubt within President Joe Biden's inner circle regarding his 2024 re-election bid.
Pulitzer Prize-finalist Franklin Foer's forthcoming work, 'The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future', alleges that senior aides actively discussed the possibility of the President serving only a single term. The revelations, obtained by The Independent, suggest a deep-seated anxiety about Biden's electoral viability that permeated the highest levels of his administration.
A White House in Turmoil
Foer's account, based on extensive access to key West Wing figures, describes an administration grappling with its own future. The most startling claim indicates that some of Biden's closest confidants were privately debating the merits of a one-term presidency, a discussion that fundamentally contradicts the public campaign strategy.
This internal scepticism appears to have been rooted in concerns about the President's age and political capital. The book suggests these conversations were not isolated whispers but represented a significant undercurrent of thought among senior staff.
The Harris Conundrum
Further complicating the 2024 picture, Foer's reporting delves into the administration's complex relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris. The book describes a White House often frustrated with her office's operation, noting that aides would sometimes avoid assigning her major projects due to these concerns.
This tension creates a profound dilemma for Democrats. Should Biden not run, Harris would be the natural successor, yet the book portrays an administration that has at times been hesitant to fully empower her.
The Road to 2024
These revelations emerge at a critical juncture. President Biden, who would be 86 at the end of a potential second term, has already launched his re-election campaign, framing it as a necessary defence of democracy against Republican challengers.
However, Foer's book suggests the internal reality was far less certain than the public confidence projected by the administration. The reporting indicates that the decision to run again was ultimately Biden's alone, made against a backdrop of private reservations from some quarters of his team.
The publication of these claims is likely to fuel existing concerns among Democratic donors, strategists, and voters about the party's prospects in the next presidential election. It paints a picture of an administration that, despite its public unity, was privately wrestling with fundamental questions about its leadership and direction.
As the 2024 campaign intensifies, these disclosures about internal doubts and tensions could prove damaging to a President seeking to project an image of strength and certainty to the American electorate.
