
Anita Dunn, a former adviser to President Joe Biden, has sharply criticized Nancy Pelosi for her role in what she views as the premature collapse of Biden’s re-election campaign. Dunn, who has moved on to support Vice President Kamala Harris, accused Pelosi of giving Democrats the green light to publicly question Biden’s ability to continue his campaign after a poor debate showing in June.
Dunn specifically pointed to Pelosi’s public appearances where she expressed doubts about Biden’s viability, claiming that these statements were pivotal in undermining the campaign. According to Dunn, these remarks not only allowed other party members to follow suit but also signaled to Democratic donors that it was acceptable to push for Biden’s replacement. She argued that this shift ignored the preferences of Democratic primary voters who had supported Biden.
The situation escalated after an op-ed by George Clooney urged Biden to step down, which Dunn believes added significant pressure on the president to exit the race. Although Biden initially resisted, he ultimately decided to withdraw on July 21, stating that it was in the best interest of the Democratic Party. Dunn described this outcome as a stark departure from normal political processes, highlighting that many undecided voters still saw Biden as a viable candidate.
Dunn also criticized Pelosi’s leadership during the 2022 midterms, suggesting that her actions contributed to the Republicans’ takeover of the House. While Pelosi has spoken positively about Biden since his withdrawal, she has also distanced herself from his political team, further straining their relationship.