Former President Barack Obama showed strong displeasure with Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s rapid endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination in July 2024, according to insights revealed in a new book by ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl. These details, disclosed in Karl’s book Retribution, highlight a tense moment between two prominent Democratic figures during a critical phase in the 2024 presidential race.
Obama contacted Pelosi soon after the former House speaker publicly endorsed Harris on July 22, 2024—just a day following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the reelection race. A Pelosi confidant bluntly characterized Obama’s response as essentially asking what she had just done. This exchange exposed a notable rift in what had been a coordinated strategy between the two Democratic leaders concerning the nomination process.
The two influential political figures had been in regular communication as Biden approached his decision to leave the race, and they had privately agreed that Harris should not receive the nomination without contest. They also agreed to refrain from making any endorsements, allowing for what Obama described as “a process” to select the Democratic nominee. Both Obama and Pelosi, arguably the party’s two most influential figures, regarded an open selection process as crucial for the party’s future.
Pelosi’s endorsement was unexpected, given this agreement. When Obama called to question why she had issued her statement supporting Harris so promptly, Pelosi replied that the train had already left the station. Her endorsement around 1 p.m. on July 22 effectively closed the door on any possibility of an open nomination contest.
Sources close to both parties provided differing accounts of the conversation’s tone. A source familiar with Obama’s viewpoint described the exchange as friendly teasing, minimizing any real anger. However, a source close to the California congresswoman recalled the conversation differently, believing Obama sounded genuinely irritated by Pelosi’s action and used strong language to express his displeasure.
The context of Biden’s exit added urgency to the situation. The president had delivered a widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, followed by an uneven interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. Biden then made several significant gaffes, including referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as President Putin at a NATO summit and calling Harris “Vice President Trump.”
Biden’s health further complicated matters when he contracted COVID-19 during a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. According to Karl’s book, Biden appeared so frail that Secret Service agents seemingly had to assist him into a vehicle that took him to his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, vacation home for recovery. From there, he announced his decision to withdraw from the race on July 21, endorsing Harris shortly afterward.
A senior Biden adviser who also worked in the Obama White House provided a more candid assessment of Obama’s reluctance to back a swift Harris coronation. This adviser suggested that Obama did not believe Harris could win the general election, adding that there was only one “Black Jesus” in reference to Obama’s own historic presidency and political influence.
The Obama endorsement finally came five days after Biden’s exit from the race, with both Barack and Michelle Obama joining a phone call with Harris. Even Pelosi’s own husband expressed surprise at her decision to endorse Harris so quickly, according to Karl’s reporting.
Obama has remained active in Democratic politics despite enjoying his post-presidency. He has recently been involved in California’s Proposition 50, a ballot measure set for a vote on November 4, 2025, that would alter the state’s congressional redistricting process. He was also scheduled to campaign with gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in Norfolk, Virginia, at Chartway Arena at Old Dominion University on November 1.