Following President Joe Biden's announcement that he would be leaving the 2024 presidential race, there was no end of speculation about why the move happened, and why it came when it did.

Despite months of concern from voters and rank-and-file Democrats, the party had maintained it's support for Biden, but as it turns out, there might not have been support all the way to the top.

President Biden's removal was described by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd as a "coup" carried out behind the scenes by influential Democrats on Sunday, Fox News reported.

"Even though it was the right thing to do, because Joe Biden was not going to be able to campaign, much less serve as president for another four years, in a fully vital way, it was a jaw-dropping putsch," Dowd wrote.

The Announcement

After weeks of pressure from prominent Democrats, who allegedly privately urged him to step down, the president announced at the end of July that he would be withdrawing from the race for president.

The decision to leave came on the heels of growing public pressure following a truly horrific performance on the debate stage against former President Donald Trump during their first matchup of this election cycle.

Numerous prominent Democrats, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Chuck Schumer, and others, have categorically denied any involvement in a "coup" to remove Biden from office, according to the piece.

"At some point, when the polls cratered, Democratic mandarins decided to put the welfare of the party — and the country — ahead of the president’s ego, and stop catering to his self-regarding fantasy that he was the only one who could beat Donald Trump," Dowd continued.

More from the piece …

Dowd, the author of this confirmation of what many considered obvious for the world to see, pointed out that Pelosi and others have admitted they haven't been able to speak to Biden since he stepped down from his position as candidate.

"One of the most ruthless and successful tacticians in congressional history seemed sheepish about knifing her pal, and conflicted over whether to take credit. Et tu, Nancy? Biden must have thought," the columnist added.

Despite their apparently strained relationship, Pelosi has been very complimentary of the president and even went so far as to say that Joe Biden belonged on Mount Rushmore.

"Kamala can’t be thrilled that Obama, Pelosi and Schumer hesitated to endorse her because they wanted more moderate rivals to compete in an open mini-primary. And Biden and Harris staffs are also tetchy, as Kamala layers on her own people," Dowd wrote.

From Biden's Camp

Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewed Ron Klain, who had previously worked for Biden as chief of staff, and Klain expressed his disapproval of the coup attempt against Biden.

Klain stated, "I think that was wrong," countering Biden's claims that he had legitimately won the nomination and was determined to run for president again.