Tongues in Washington are wagging over former president Barack Obama’s stop by 10 Downing Street, this week, for a chin wag with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The visit by President Joe Biden’s old boss with the current leader of America's closest ally is being seen by some as a breach of etiquette by Obama and mark of disrespect toward Biden.  It wouldn’t be the first time that 44’s star power has cast a shadow over his hapless former veep. During a visit to the White House in 2022, Obama was swarmed by his old gang of DC power players as they jostled and maneuvered to get close to the one they had been waiting for. A slack jawed Old Joe was left to wander the perimeter aimlessly before eventually throwing up his hands and shuffling away. Biden may have worn the title of commander in chief, but Obama commanded the room.

The Washington Post reports that the 46th president checks in with White House alum, former president Bill Clinton more often than he does with Obama. Sources at 1600 Pennsylvania tell Axios that Biden believes that Obama is jealous of his accomplishments. Given Biden’s low approval ratings, that would make Obama an extraordinary outlier, if true. It would also mark a dramatic reversal of Obama’s warning ahead of the 2020 elections: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up.”