The American newspaper "Washington Post" revealed that the cheerful atmosphere that characterizes the meetings of US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Barack Obama, may conceal great tension between some elements of the circles surrounding the two presidents belonging to the Democratic Party.
The newspaper said that some Biden loyalists are resentful that Obama did not throw his weight behind the current president's projects, and that he does not value him as he should.
On the other hand, Obama supporters are frustrated with the keenness of Biden aides to constantly boast of their success in avoiding the mistakes made by Obama's staff in several areas, including not promoting the president's achievements properly.
Biden had previously stated in March 2021 that Obama was "very modest" about taking the time to enjoy the "victory round" after the approval of the rescue package in 2009, explaining that Democrats paid a price for it in the 2010 midterm elections.
Pictures of Obama and his wife Michelle will be hung on the walls of the White House (Reuters)
Love or arrogance?
And the joke that Obama made during his last meeting with Biden last April, when he visited the White House for the first time since his exit from it, made matters worse.
Obama then addressed his predecessor, "Mr. Vice President Joe Biden," as he had done during his presidency, which Biden confronted with a smile and a military salute to Obama.
While everyone saw in the clip a scene explaining the depth of the relationship between the two presidents, some Biden supporters saw that the clip showed - intentionally or unintentionally - part of Obama's "arrogance" against his successor, and an affirmation of the feelings of disrespect practiced by some Obama aides against the president. current United States.
Although everyone sees the great understanding between Biden and Obama, including the two families as well, aides to the current president - according to the Washington Post - say that there are many differences between the two men, imposed by the age gap between them (19 years), and the professional gap, where Biden served as a member He served in the Senate for 36 years, while Obama served for less than 4 years.
The two men also differ in the way they think and talk to people, as Obama is an eloquent orator who is able to express his thoughts in depth, while Biden is considered a model of a skilled, flexible politician who is able to deviate from the text whenever he wants to.
Differences that some say were evident in the 2008 Democratic primary, where Biden sarcastically addressed his opponent, Obama, by saying, "You have the description of the first African American to be simple, taste, clean, and good-looking," a statement for which he later apologized.
Biden and Obama meetings are hardly without jokes and smiles (Reuters)
don't stress
A White House official refused to talk about any tension between the two camps of Presidents Biden and Obama.
White House press official Karen Jean-Pierre said that President Biden and his wife are very pleased with the event that former President Obama and his wife, Michelle, came to the White House to unveil their "portraits" that will be hung on the walls of the White House.
The Washington Post also quoted Obama advisers as saying that he was very pleased to see Biden's recent string of legislative successes.
And if there is a difference of opinion about the existence of some kind of tension between the two camps of the two presidents, no one disagrees that the return of Obama and his wife to the White House to unveil their pictures hanging in the White House was another opportunity to show the strength of the relationship between the two men and their families.