CHICAGO — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats will speak at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night – exactly one month after her alleged master plan to boot Biden from the ticket finally worked.
Pelosi (D-Calif.), former President Bill Clinton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and are among the speakers in the evening lineup for Day Three of the party gathering as Biden vacations over 2,000 miles away in California after dropping his re-election bid on July 21.
The headliner of the evening will be Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, who will formally accept the Democratic nomination for the vice presidency during his address.
Pelosi’s role in Biden’s decision to drop out has long been subject to speculation. Biden, who is rumored to be frustrated with her, confirmed this week that the pair have not spoken since he exited the race.
While she never publicly joined the dozens of Democrats who urged Biden to step aside in the wake of his fumbling debate performance in late June, Pelosi raised eyebrows for some of her machinations during the pressure campaign against the president.
Roughly two days after Biden sent a letter to Democrats telling them that he was “firmly committed” to staying in the race, she went on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” rumored to be one of the president’s favorite shows, and suggested his decision about whether to stay in was still an open question.
A handful of her allies — Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) — notably joined the ranks of Democrats railing against Biden.
“Sometimes you have to take a punch for the children,” she told CNN Monday. “I did what I had to do.”
Biden has insisted that “No one influenced my decision. No one knew it was coming.”
Jeffries met with Biden during the firestorm festering over the viability of his candidacy and relayed concerns from his caucus to the president
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also met with Biden during the mutiny and implored him to step aside, ABC News reported.
Schumer spoke at the convention on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump heralded the anniversary of Biden dropping out by dumping some salt on the wounds.
“[Harris] knew what was going to happen, and so did everyone else. It led to a first-ever COUP of the President of the United States, who is now unhappily sunbathing on a Beach in California, watching the waves, and thinking how much he hates Barack Hussein Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, and Lightweight Movie ‘Star’ George Clooney, who failed to come to Crooked Joe’s defense,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Other speakers for Night Three of the DNC are set to include: Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Two Republicans — former Trump administration official Olivia Troye and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan — are also set to speak, according to convention officials.
