It seems the holiday season isn’t bringing much cheer to President Joe Biden’s White House, where a mix of strained relationships, bruised egos, and dashed political hopes has cast a shadow over the final weeks of his presidency. Far from a celebratory farewell tour, Biden’s final lap appears to be fueled by frustration, resentment, and, in some cases, outright score-settling.
Chief among the rumored grievances is Biden’s deteriorating relationship with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Once a trusted ally, Pelosi reportedly led the charge to push Biden out of the 2024 race, a move that has left the president giving her the cold shoulder.
Their icy dynamic was on full display at the Kennedy Center Honors, where Pelosi was conspicuously seated far from the Bidens, a stark departure from her usual place of honor.
The Bidens’ relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris isn’t faring much better. Despite Biden’s quick endorsement of Harris after stepping aside from the 2024 race—a move some see as an act of defiance toward Pelosi and Barack Obama—Harris’s resounding loss to Donald Trump has reportedly left Biden frustrated and confused.
Democratic donors and insiders are blaming everything from Biden’s delayed exit from the race to Harris’s poorly run campaign, further deepening divisions within the party.
First Lady Jill Biden has reportedly been a driving force in stoking some of these feuds. Insiders suggest she harbors deep resentment toward key Democratic figures, including Pelosi and Obama, and may have encouraged Biden to act on his grievances. Jill’s public jab at Harris during a recent women’s health conference—mocking Harris’s campaign theme of “joy”—did little to dispel rumors of tension between the First Couple and the vice president.
Adding to the sense of betrayal is the revelation that Democratic donors were allegedly misled about the state of Harris’s campaign. Reports suggest that donors were told Harris was poised to win battleground states, only to see her lose all seven. This has left many donors bitter and unwilling to support Biden’s post-presidential endeavors, including his planned library in Delaware.
The Bidens’ final weeks in office have been marked by fewer holiday events and a general air of melancholy. The White House staff holiday party, held at 1 p.m. on a Monday, lacked the usual festive spirit, with attendees returning to work afterward.
Many staffers are simply trying to keep things running until they can take much-needed time off, even as pressing issues like government funding and international crises demand attention.
Meanwhile, Biden himself has been visibly emotional, grappling with the end of his presidency and a half-century in public service. Friends and allies note that this time of year is particularly hard for him, as it marks the anniversary of the 1972 car crash that claimed the lives of his first wife and daughter.
