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Inside Barack Obama and Joe Biden's political relationship, from their 'bromance' to their reported falling out
Inside Barack Obama and Joe Biden's political relationship, from their 'bromance' to their reported falling out
Talia LakritzAug 20, 2024, 06:33 IST
<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Barack Obama and Joe Biden's close friendship has included moments of tension.White House/Pete Souza</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Barack Obama and Joe Biden's "bromance" is widely celebrated, but their relationship is complex.</li><li>Tensions simmered when Obama favored Hillary Clinton over Biden in the 2016 election.</li></ul><p>Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden's close friendship became a widely celebrated "<a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-biden-photos-2016-12">bromance</a>" during the Obama White House years.</p><p>While the two share a close bond, their <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-obama-campaign-concerns-debate-2024-8">political relationship</a> has also included disagreements and periods of tension, especially amid Biden's decision to drop out of the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-dropping-out-presidential-race-2024-7">2024 presidential race</a>.</p><p>Here's a look inside Obama and Biden's close yet complex friendship.</p>
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Joe Biden and Barack Obama briefly ran against each other in the 2008 Democratic primaries
Joe Biden and Barack Obama during a Democratic primary debate.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Obama chose Biden as his running mate, citing his foreign-policy experience and ability to work a room
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Joe Biden on the campaign trail.Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Obama and Biden's close bond in the White House became widely regarded as a 'bromance'
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden head towards the Oval Office Private Dining Room for lunch.White House/Pete Souza
They were occasionally out of step, such as when Biden endorsed same-sex marriage before Obama had gone public with his support
Joe Biden on "Meet the Press."William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
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Still, they showed up for each other when it mattered, like when Biden's son, Beau Biden, died of cancer in 2015
Barack Obama and Joe Biden at Beau Biden's funeral.Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Tensions simmered when Biden considered running for president in 2016, but Obama backed Hillary Clinton
Joe Biden and Barack Obama in the Oval Office as Biden prepared to announce that he would not seek the presidential nomination in 2016.Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
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They ended their time in the White House on good terms as Obama surprised Biden with a Presidential Medal of Freedom
Barack Obama awarded Joe Biden a Presidential Medal of Freedom.AP
Obama didn't endorse any candidate in the 2020 Democratic primaries but campaigned for Biden once he became the presumptive nominee
Barack Obama and Joe Biden on the campaign trail.Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images
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Biden and Obama appeared chummy once again while unveiling the Obamas' official White House portraits in 2022
Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the White House.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Obama began sharing doubts about Biden's ability to win in 2024 after the president's disastrous debate performance against Trump, according to reports
Joe Biden and Barack Obama at a fundraiser.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
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Biden ultimately bowed out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images