Politics
WATCH: Biden And Obama Seen Having ‘Very Tense’ Conversation During Ethel Kennedy’s Funeral
Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama were seen having a tense conversation at Wednesday’s funeral service for Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, in Washington, D.C. Just 20 days before the pivotal 2024 election, the interaction stirred up speculation about the state of the relationship between the two former running mates. The memorial service, held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, was a gathering of the nation’s political elite, including former President Bill Clinton, who also spoke.
The ceremony was a poignant occasion, honoring the life of Ethel Kennedy, the 96-year-old matriarch of the Kennedy family, who passed away last week after complications from a stroke. The stroke occurred in her sleep on October 3, and she was immediately taken to a hospital where she received medical care.
Married to Robert in 1950, Ethel became a prominent figure in American political and social circles. Throughout their marriage and after her husband’s tragic death, she was deeply involved in social advocacy, focusing on human rights and environmental issues. She played a crucial role in preserving and promoting her husband’s political legacy.
Biden, who was scheduled to deliver the eulogy, arrived at the service with an air of composure, but things took a slight turn when Obama was spotted engaging in what appeared to be a tense conversation with the president. The two men were gesturing and talking in hushed tones as cameras captured the interaction. The topic of discussion remains unknown, but the body language between the former close allies raised some eyebrows. The public can only speculate about what was discussed between Biden and Obama, but the timing of the exchange suggests that the Democratic Party is facing deeper internal challenges than it would like to admit.
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The presidential election is fast approaching, and Kamala Harris’s campaign has been facing challenges from both sides of the political aisle. With Donald Trump leading in key swing states like Arizona and Georgia, and the race tightening in Nevada and North Carolina, the stakes are high for the Democratic Party.
Ethel is also the mother of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran as an independent candidate in the race, added yet another layer to the funeral’s political backdrop. The Kennedy family, long a symbol of Democratic power, has been somewhat divided after Kennedy Jr.’s departure from the party to challenge Biden. The split has been a source of concern among Democratic leaders, who now fear that RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump could siphon votes away from Kamala Harris, further complicating the party’s path to re-election.
Earlier this week, ten insiders revealed to Axios a growing strain between Kamala Harris’ staff and Biden’s White House team. Although Biden’s aides are publicly supporting Harris’ candidacy, many are still grappling with the transition from leading to supporting roles following Biden’s decision not to seek re-election.
Members of Harris’ team have reportedly expressed their frustration that senior White House aides are not adequately aligning Biden’s public engagements and messaging with the needs of Harris’ campaign. An example of this misalignment occurred last Friday when Biden held an unscheduled press conference in the White House briefing room at the same time Harris was scheduled to speak at an event in Michigan, resulting in diminished television coverage for her. Now, there’s a lingering wariness among some members of Harris’ team regarding the Biden campaign staff they are now collaborating with.