Claims that President Joe Biden’s withdrawal decision was up to him were tainted by reports of a “palace coup” as top Democrats made the case to “do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Within a month of his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump, the incumbent responded to the calls from within his own party and ended his re-election campaign. Now, amid the unusual circumstances of the social media announcement and absence from the public eye, a source close to the Biden family told the New York Post Monday that the early head-to-head was part of a plan to force an early exit.
“The debate was a set-up to convince Democrats that he couldn’t run for president,” the source told the newspaper as party leaders reportedly played the “good cop, bad cop” routine with the 25th Amendment.
Prior to the start of the Republican National Convention, and the same day that an attempt had been made on Trump’s life, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) visited Biden to make the case that he step aside.
A source informed the Post that the 35-minute visit to the resident-in-chief’s Delaware home had him open “by saying he was there out of love and affection and he came as a friend and colleague.”
“Schumer delivered a personal appeal that focused on three points: the Biden legacy, the future of the country, and the impact on Congress. He urged him to think about the Supreme Court,” the source detailed as Schumer was cited as saying before hugging at the end of the meeting, “I do not expect you to walk out of this room making a decision, but I hope you will think about what I said.”
That interaction contrasted one reported between the president and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D) as a source told Politico that the former House Speaker “made clear that they could do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“She gave them three weeks of the easy way,” following the debate the Democrat went on. “It was about to be the hard way.”
As pressure mounted for Biden to step aside and invoking the 25th Amendment to have him removed due to his being incapable of exercising his duties became a strong possibility, it was reported that his son, Hunter Biden, became deeply involved post-debate.
“Hunter felt [the president] was being set up and he was very concerned about his father. These people, these officials were not on Joe’s side,” the source close to the family told the Post.
Meanwhile, Trump and running mate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance had also addressed the idea of a “palace coup” taking place in the Democratic Party as they sat down for their first joint interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters over the weekend.
When asked directly if it was a coup, Trump said, “Sort of,” before Vance spoke up, “Yeah, I think it is.”
“I mean, look, there’s a constitutional process, the 25th Amendment. If Joe Biden can’t run for president,” the senator remarked, “he can’t serve as president. And if they want to take him down because he’s mentally incapable of serving, invoke the 25th Amendment. You don’t get to sort of do this in the most politically beneficial way for Democrats. If it’s an actual problem, they should take care of it the appropriate way.”
INSIDER: Trump, JD Vance comment on Biden ‘coup’: ‘Invoke 25th Amendment if mentally incapable’ https://t.co/vwTT5XVFTo
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) July 22, 2024
According to the close source, Democratic insiders were aware of Biden’s concerning faculties, and the Post was told, “When I saw him a couple of years ago, it was frightening. He was just repeating slogans and had no idea who I was.”
It was also suggested, “I think he saw the writing on the wall with internal polling and lack of fundraising.”
“[I’m] not sure threats by Pelosi were necessary,” added the source.
Still, as Biden backed his vice president to be the nominee in his stead after his withdrawal, the Post went on to detail, “Although Biden immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president, the source said Democratic delegates will be strongly encouraged to instead back Arizona senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly for president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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