President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign team learned of his decision to drop out of the race through social media before receiving any official communication. The staff received an email about 20 minutes later, which directed them to Biden’s post on X. The email, sent by campaign managers Jen O’Malley Dillon and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, included a brief message and a promise of more information to come.
The email from the campaign managers was sent at 2:03 pm Eastern, while Biden’s announcement was posted on X at 1:46 pm ET. The email linked to Biden’s letter and indicated that more details would be shared during an all-staff call. The campaign managers expressed gratitude for the team’s efforts and indicated that further updates would follow.
Joe Biden
During the time of Biden’s announcement, campaign aides were actively working on delegate support. Senior aides, including Anita Dunn, who handles Biden’s communications strategy, learned about the decision only a minute before it was made public. This sudden announcement left the campaign staff surprised and unprepared.
The future direction of Biden’s campaign team remains uncertain. CNN reported that there are discussions about integrating former Obama aides to assist in a potential campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris has expressed her determination to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination.
Biden’s unexpected announcement and the delayed internal communication caused a scramble within the campaign team, highlighting the abruptness of the decision and its impact on the staff’s immediate activities and future planning.
