Why did President Joe Biden really withdraw his bid for a second term? Allegations of strong-arm tactics by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have led Republicans to question the integrity of the Democratic Party’s process. They claim Biden’s removal from the ballot was an orchestrated maneuver by top Democrats, including Pelosi and Barack Obama, who insiders suggest pressured and possibly threatened Biden to step aside. Was this about Biden’s health and cognitive decline, or were poor poll numbers the real issue? Can a sitting president be removed simply due to unfavorable numbers?

After being kept largely out of public view during the 2020 election, it seems party insiders decided to pull the plug on Biden once he served his purpose. Since announcing his decision to drop his bid for a second term, Biden has been in hiding and is not expected back at the White House until Wednesday.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance are questioning who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. Vance argued that if Biden is unfit to run for re-election, this raises questions about his current fitness for office. He contended that if there were genuine concerns about Biden’s capabilities, the Democratic Party should invoke the 25th Amendment rather than resort to political machinations.

The Republicans’ claims gain traction with Pelosi’s immediate endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate following Biden’s withdrawal. Rumors of Pelosi’s influence and her potential role in Biden’s exit are, therefore, not without merit.

Since 2016, the Democratic Party has labeled Donald Trump an “existential threat to Democracy”—a claim that may have incited Thomas Matthew Crooks to attempt an assassination on Trump. Yet, like Hubert Humphrey, Vice President Kamala Harris hasn’t won a single state caucus or primary vote, which many view as undemocratic.

If these allegations hold water, it could signify a significant betrayal within the Democratic Party, exploiting not only their leader but also the millions of Democratic voters who trust in a fair election process. Democratic Party leaders need to be held accountable for these and other pressing questions.