Veteran New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has sparked controversy by characterizing the Democratic Party’s recent decision to replace President Joe Biden as their nominee as a “coup.” In her latest column, Dowd acknowledges that the move was necessary given Biden’s apparent inability to effectively campaign or serve another full term. However, she argues that the orchestrated effort by top Democrats to push him out of the race was a well-planned power play, not the smooth transition some are portraying.

Dowd points out that while party insiders like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Barack Obama had been publicly supportive of Biden, they worked behind the scenes to sideline him. “The president already resented Obama for shoving him aside for Hillary, and he resented Hillary for losing to Trump,” Dowd wrote, noting that Biden’s removal was driven by the same influential figures who initially backed him.

She describes how Democrats, after isolating Biden, “whitewashed the coup by ornately extolling Biden,” with figures like Rep. James Clyburn praising his time in office while simultaneously supporting his withdrawal. According to Dowd, the behind-the-scenes machinations resulted in Kamala Harris being positioned as the new nominee, creating a sense of renewed energy within the party.

Despite her sharp criticism of the process, Dowd concedes that Democrats may have saved themselves from a crushing defeat by making this move, even if it required sidelining a sitting president. Her column provides a candid look at the power dynamics and strategic calculations that drove Biden out of the race.