In Dramatic Reversal, Obama Will Support Biden in Democratic Primary

Former POTUS ‘was not encouraging’ in 2020, tried to warn us: ‘Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f— things up.’

Hold on to your hats, folks! Barack H. Obama, the Netflix producer and former president of the United States, has signaled his support for President Joe Biden, who officially entered the 2024 Democratic primary on Tuesday.

“Proud of all that Joe Biden and his administration have accomplished these last few years,” Obama wrote on Twitter. “He’s delivered for the American people—and he’ll continue to do so once he’s re-elected. Let’s get to work.”

Why is this a big deal? It’s a dramatic reversal, or “flip flop,” for the former commander in chief. Obama did not endorse a candidate in the 2020 Democratic primary and was particularly dismissive of Biden.

When Biden was considering a possible run against Hillary Clinton in 2016, Obama “quietly pressured [him] to sit out the race,” according to the New York Times. As the 2020 election approached, Obama tried his best to talk Biden out of running. “You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t,” he reportedly told Biden in 2019.

But now, Obama has changed his tune and is throwing his support behind Biden. It’s a surprising move that could have a big impact on the upcoming primary.

What else should you know? Biden, 80, is the oldest president in American history and is statistically unlikely to survive a second four-year term in office. He will face off against bloated scion Robert Kennedy Jr. and sultry guru Marianne Williamson in the Democratic primary.

The bottom line: Obama is known for his self-regard, but his endorsement of Biden shows that he’s willing to put aside his personal feelings for the good of the party. It’s a big win for Biden and could help him secure the nomination. As for Obama, watching his former vice president succeed while his own legacy is diminished must be tough. But hey, that’s politics.