President Biden’s decision to immediately endorse Vice President Kamala Harris after he opted to suspend his presidential campaign was done in defiance of former President Barack Obama and other top Democrats, according to a report from the New York Post citing Biden insiders.

Biden, who said he was dropping out in “defense of Democracy” in an Oval Office address earlier this week, had been urged by Obama to allow delegates at next month’s Democratic National Convention to decide on a new candidate, a source “close to the Biden family” told the outlet.

“It was Joe’s big f**k you,” the source said. “Joe said, ‘If I’m out, then I am endorsing her.’”

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A “well-placed Democratic source” told the New York Post that they have heard the same, and that Biden’s endorsement of Harris was his way of asserting control. The second source reported that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wanted to hold a “mini primary” instead. Obama was reportedly confident that Harris would not win under such a scenario.

Multiple sources told the outlet that Obama was a big supporter of inserting Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) atop the Democratic Party ticket.

Biden’s endorsement of Harris was “Joe truly knifing Obama and Pelosi in the back for making him stand down,” the Democratic Party source said.

Another “longtime Washington advisor” stated that Biden intends on taking an active role in Harris’ presidential campaign. “It allows Biden to retain leverage as a much more experienced hand at national politics, which will be good for her,” the Washington insider said. “It means her campaign won’t be run by a bunch of insular advisors.”

Obama — who finally endorsed Harris on Friday after days of speculation — reportedly played a leading role in the effort to oust Biden. The former president had hoped that mounting pressure from donors and Hollywood elites would provide sufficient enough reason for Biden to drop out after his disastrous debate performance.

According to a source close to the Biden family, prominent Democrats threatened to invoke the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution and urge the vice president and the cabinet to remove Biden from office, the source said.

Now that the Democrats appear to be stuck with Harris, Obama is not confident about her ability to pull off a victory in November, the source added.

“Obama knows she’s just incompetent — the border czar who never visited the border, saying that all migrants should have health insurance,” the source said.

“She cannot navigate the landmines that are ahead of her.”