Politics
New Biden Book Raises Uncomfortable Questions for Pete Buttigieg
By Jake Beardslee · May 17, 2025
New Book Sparks 2024 Blame Game
A new exposé about former President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign is prompting Democratic soul-searching, and could complicate the path forward for figures like Pete Buttigieg who are eyeing a 2028 presidential bid. The White House / Wikimedia
Buttigieg’s Cabinet Role Ties Him to a Failed Campaign
While not named in the book, Buttigieg’s role in Biden’s cabinet places him in the orbit of a failed political project that aimed, and failed, to stop Donald Trump’s return to office. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
New Book Alleges Efforts to Hide Biden’s Decline
Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios journalist Alex Thompson, alleges efforts were made within Biden’s orbit to conceal his condition from the public, donors, and even members of his cabinet. The White House / Wikimedia
Democrats Revisit Biden’s 2024 Re-Election Strategy
The decision to pursue re-election, despite a disastrous 2024 debate performance against Trump, has become a focal point in Democratic assessments of what went wrong. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Todd Warns Biden Ties Could Haunt Future Democratic Hopefuls
Political analyst Chuck Todd said on his podcast The Chuck ToddCast that it will be a “question anybody who worked directly for Biden must answer," explicitly naming Buttigieg and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “I do wonder if it’s going to make anybody that touches Biden persona non grata.” The White House / Wikimedia
Buttigieg’s Ties to Biden Could Carry Political Risk
Though Buttigieg was not portrayed as being in the loop on Biden’s condition, his proximity to the administration may still cost him. The White House / Wikimedia
Reeher: Biden-Era Secrecy Undermines Democrats’ Credibility Against Trump
Syracuse University political scientist Grant Davis Reeher told Newsweek, “What’s becoming clearer about the Biden presidency is a systematic, persistent effort to hide something important from the public.” He added that Democrats can no longer credibly claim to be “the party of truth” when running against a “dishonest Trump.” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs / Wikimedia
Buttigieg Recalls Biden’s Leadership During Bridge Collapse Response
Buttigieg defended his tenure in the administration this week, emphasizing that whenever he needed support from the White House, he “got it.” Citing the 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, he added: “The same president that the world saw addressing that was the president I was in the Oval with, insisting that we do a good job and do right by Baltimore.” Maryland GovPics / Wikimedia
Buttigieg Acknowledges Democratic Doubts Over Biden’s 2024 Run
While acknowledging that the party “maybe” would have been better off if Biden hadn’t run again, Buttigieg stopped short of direct criticism, noting that “most people would agree that that’s the case” only in hindsight. Nathanial Gary-USA TODAY
Strategists Warn Biden Officials May Carry Stigma of 2024 Defeat
Strategists warn that the narrative of failure, especially the inability to stop Trump, could follow Biden’s top officials. “He was a cabinet officer in a failed administration,” wrote Matthew Yglesias in a post on Substack. “Not an administration that was bereft of good ideas or good policies, but one... that was unpopular and rejected at the polls and that completely failed to achieve its stated core objective of rescuing American democracy from the threat of Donald Trump.” U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Broome / Wikimedia
Buttigieg Weighs 2028 Run Amid Family Considerations
Buttigieg addressed his own 2028 ambitions this week, saying he’s “assessing the office and what it calls for” while balancing personal factors like raising a young family. “Having kids can motivate you to run, but it can also motivate you to spend more time at home,” he told Anand Giridharadas during a Substack interview. Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Buttigieg Holds Strong in Early 2028 Polls
Despite the potential baggage, he remains a leading figure in early polls. An Echelon Insights survey conducted in May showed Buttigieg with 10% support among likely Democratic primary voters, behind Kamala Harris at 32% and ahead of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8%. Pete For America / Wikimedia