BARACK Obama and Joe Biden may have been thick as thieves during the former’s presidency but the pair weren’t always that close.
The “bromance” between the two political leaders has inspired many gifs and memes online – but it has taken a dramatic turn as Obama has apparently lost faith in Biden’s ability to win re-election.
President Joe Biden and Barack Obama have had a few tenuous moments throughout their decades-long relationshipCredit: Getty
The pair actually began their relationship on a sour noteCredit: AP
Now, Obama reportedly is rethinking a second Biden presidencyCredit: AP
A book revealed that then-freshman Senator Barack Obama and Joe Biden actually started off on a very sour note.
In her book, First in Line: Presidents, Vice Presidents, and the Pursuit of Power,” Journalist Kate Anderson Brower reveals that Obama was once bothered by one of Biden’s longwinded monologues.
“At [Barack Obama’s] first meeting of the Senate foreign relations committee in 2005, which happened to be a confirmation hearing for Condoleezza Rice, Obama passed an aide a note in the middle of one of Biden’s long monologues,” Brower wrote.
“It read: ‘Shoot. Me. Now.’”
Brower said the relationship between Biden and Obama fascinated her because it grew, rather than deteriorated, over time.
“Their friendship is more interesting than it’s often portrayed because it was not always easy,” former White House press secretary Josh Earnest told Brower.
“They were a political odd couple whose strengths were complementary and mutually reinforcing. But there were significant differences in style — and occasionally in perspective.”
According to Brower, Biden had to accept the fact that, in order to be Obama’s running mate in 2008, the former senator had to bow to Obama as the duo’s leader.
In turn, Obama was forced to acquiesce that Biden’s “deep experience on foreign policy and national security issues,” would account for his lack of experience.
“Both of them ate a certain amount of s**t to see the virtue in the other person,” an unnamed former Obama administration official told Brower.
While social media users enjoyed many videos of the men acting like best friends, Brower reveals there was trouble brewing behind closed doors.
In the book, Brower wrote that Obama “grew exasperated with Biden.”
The Pennsylvania native got even more infuriated when he found out Obama’s re-election team had secretly polled voters on replacing him with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann said “Biden dodged a bullet he never saw coming” as it was revealed that replacing him with Clinton wouldn’t drastically improve Obama’s odds.
One of the greatest disagreements between the two men involved Syria.
“Obama should never have threatened Syria if he did not intend to follow through,” according to a Biden aide.
Despite these issues, Biden and Obama’s relationship was apparently as warm and giving as it was portrayed online.
In January 2016, Biden revealed that then-president Obama offered to pay the mortgage on his Deleware home during Beau Biden’s illness.
“[Obama] said, ‘I’ll give you the money. Whatever you need, I’ll give you the money. Don’t [sell the house], Joe — promise me. Promise me,’” Biden told CNN.
ON THE ROCKS
However, now it’s unclear if their cozy relationship will endure after Obama reportedly told Democratic allies that Biden needs to consider dropping out of the 2024 election.
Obama believes Biden’s chance at winning re-election has decreased greatly and that the 81-year-old president needs to stop and rethink his candidacy, per the Washington Post.
Party members told the publication that Biden is feeling the pressure to exit due to growing concerns about his age and well-being.
Worries grew even more when Biden announced on Wednesday that he tested positive for Covid-19.
He insisted he’s “feeling good” but previously said he’d remove himself from the race if he were diagnosed with a medical condition.
Biden shared a statement on his X, formerly Twitter, writing, “I’m sick.”
He added a snarky reply to the tweet, writing, “of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here.”
Biden wrote more on his presidential account, saying, “I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.”
Biden looked confused while deboarding Air Force One after being diagnosed with Covid-19Credit: AP
In the book, Brower reveals that Obama “grew exasperated with Biden”Credit: AP:Associated Press
It is unclear how the relationship between the two will be after Obama reportedly called for Biden to step downCredit: AFP