For months, rumors swirled in certain political circles that President Joe Biden wouldn’t end up on the ballot come November 2024. The notion was brushed off by many as a right-wing conspiracy theory, particularly after NBC News labeled the idea of Biden being replaced at the last minute as mere political fear-mongering. But in a turn of events that seemed ripped from a political drama, Biden is now officially out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris has taken his place as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
Back in April 2023, Biden launched his re-election campaign, with a confident strategy and deep pockets—reportedly over $91 million in combined funds across his campaign and Democratic fundraising committees. Biden’s team had even brought on board top political strategists, showing no sign of retreat. The idea of replacing Biden was dismissed as outlandish, with critics pointing to the logistical nightmare of pulling off such a swap so close to election season.
The idea, centered largely on the thought that Biden is too old and not sharp enough mentally, is that there’s a secret plan to replace Biden due to his health or other reasons by amorphous illuminati-type forces within the Democratic Party. It is not a mainstream thought within the Republican Party, but it has maintained a persistent foothold among a relevant chunk of the GOP base taking their cues from some party officials who continue to toy with the idea, NBC reported at the time.
But as 2024 wore on, questions about Biden’s age and ability to endure a second term intensified, and whispers of an exit strategy started gaining traction, particularly on conservative platforms. GOP voices like Senator Ted Cruz even made bold predictions, suggesting the so-called “Democratic kingmakers” would step in, pulling off a swap for someone like Michelle Obama. Cruz and others described this as a plot that would emerge during the Democratic National Convention.
In July 2024, these predictions took a different form of reality when Biden made the unexpected decision to drop out, citing personal reasons and the desire to ensure the party’s success. Despite what NBC News and others had previously dismissed as a right-wing narrative, it became clear that internal concerns and calculations did play a role. The transition to Kamala Harris as the official Democratic candidate happened rapidly, with Harris now set to take on former President Donald Trump in the election.
While Biden’s departure from the race wasn’t the exact plot that conspiracy theorists had envisioned, it’s become a case of political reality bending towards once-dismissed rumors. Harris’s campaign now faces the task of uniting and energizing the Democratic base amid these unexpected shifts, while Trump continues his own push for a political comeback.
The race, which was once projected to be a typical rematch, has now transformed into one of the most unprecedented and unpredictable presidential elections in modern U.S. history.
