Anita Dunn, a former top adviser to President Joe Biden, has accused Nancy Pelosi of playing a critical role in the downfall of Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. Dunn, who has moved on to support Vice President Kamala Harris, argued that Pelosi’s public skepticism about Biden’s candidacy significantly undermined his standing within the Democratic Party, ultimately leading to his decision to step down.
Dunn specifically criticized Pelosi’s public comments following Biden’s underwhelming debate performance in June, which she claimed gave other Democrats the license to question his ability to continue. This shift, according to Dunn, made it increasingly difficult for Biden’s campaign to recover and fueled a donor-driven push to replace him with Harris. Dunn emphasized that this process ignored the preferences of primary voters who had supported Biden’s candidacy.
The situation escalated after George Clooney, a prominent Democratic donor, published an op-ed urging Biden to withdraw from the race. Despite Biden’s initial resolve to stay in, he eventually conceded on July 21, citing the need to prioritize the party’s future. Dunn characterized this decision as highly unusual, noting that many undecided voters still believed in Biden’s viability.
In addition to her criticism of Pelosi’s role in Biden’s withdrawal, Dunn also questioned Pelosi’s effectiveness during the 2022 midterm elections. She suggested that stronger leadership could have prevented the Republican takeover of the House. Although Pelosi has since expressed admiration for Biden, her recent comments and actions reveal ongoing tension between her and the president’s former advisers.
