In a scathing column, New York Times opinion writer Maureen Dowd has accused top Democratic leaders of staging a “coup” against President Joe Biden to replace him as their 2024 nominee. Dowd argues that while the decision was likely necessary given Biden’s declining capacity, it was carried out through a cold, calculated power grab by those who had once publicly supported him.
Dowd points to figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former President Barack Obama as the masterminds behind the effort. According to Dowd, these leaders privately worked to isolate Biden while simultaneously praising his accomplishments in public. “The president already resented Obama for shoving him aside for Hillary,” Dowd wrote, emphasizing that old tensions re-emerged as Biden realized he was being sidelined once again.
The columnist also criticizes how Democrats sought to frame the transition as a smooth, positive shift, despite the behind-the-scenes machinations. Dowd argues that the party “whitewashed the coup by ornately extolling Biden,” with key figures offering glowing praise even as they maneuvered to replace him with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite her harsh critique, Dowd acknowledges that the party may have avoided a major loss in 2024 by replacing Biden. However, she warns that the process reveals the cynical reality of party politics, where even a sitting president is not immune to being cast aside when electoral strategy demands it. Her column offers a sobering look at how political alliances can shift in an instant when power is at stake.
