Anita Dunn, a former senior adviser to President Joe Biden, has publicly blamed House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi for the collapse of Biden’s re-election campaign. Dunn, who now works with a super PAC supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, accused Pelosi and other Democratic leaders of undermining Biden by publicly expressing doubts about his candidacy. This, Dunn argued, allowed others within the party to follow suit, creating a snowball effect that ultimately led to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race.
Dunn specifically pointed to Pelosi’s appearances on television, where she questioned Biden’s viability after his poor debate performance on June 27. According to Dunn, these moments were critical in preventing the campaign from recovering. Dunn also criticized the Democratic Party’s donors, accusing them of ignoring the will of primary voters by pushing for Biden to step aside in favor of Harris.
The pressure on Biden intensified after Democratic megadonor George Clooney penned an op-ed in The New York Times urging Biden to end his campaign. Despite Biden’s initial resistance, he eventually conceded on July 21, stating that it was in the best interest of his party and the country for him to withdraw. Dunn described the decision as unprecedented and counter to the desires of many undecided voters who believed Biden could still win.
Dunn also took aim at Pelosi’s leadership during the 2022 midterms, suggesting that better management might have prevented Republicans from taking control of the House. While Pelosi has praised Biden since his withdrawal, the two have not spoken since he ended his campaign, highlighting the strained relationship between the former allies.
