Kamala Harris: Biden's 2024 Run Was 'Reckless'
Then Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris, 2013. Photo courtesy of Lonnie Tague for the Department of Justice. Public domain.
In a stunning and unvarnished reveal, former Vice President Kamala Harris has pulled back the curtain on the 2024 presidential campaign in her forthcoming memoir, "107 Days." Harris delivers a candid critique of President Joe Biden's decision to seek reelection, labeling it "recklessness" given his age and health challenges, according to Reuters. But the book goes beyond that, reportedly exposing a fraught dynamic within the White House where Harris felt sidelined and unsupported, left to fend off damaging narratives largely on her own.
'Recklessness' at the Helm
Harris's memoir offers a rare glimpse into the inner turmoil of the Biden administration's final months before the 2024 election. She writes that allowing Biden, then 81, to run again was a gamble that should never have been left to "an individual's ego" or "ambition," as reported by Reuters. The stakes, she argues, were simply too high for such a personal decision. Yet, despite her misgivings, Harris felt she was in no position to advise the president against running. She feared that any such counsel would be seen as self-serving or disloyal, a move that could damage her standing and be interpreted as naked ambition.
This tension between loyalty and self-advocacy forms a central theme in her account. Harris describes a mantra repeated by the White House team: "It's Joe and (his wife) Jill's decision," as reported by Reuters. But in hindsight, she questions whether that mantra masked a "reckless" gamble with the country's future. Biden's eventual withdrawal from the race followed a poor debate performance and growing concerns about his ability to endure a full campaign or serve a second term. Harris's reflections underscore the difficult balance between respecting the president's authority and confronting the realities of his declining stamina and health.
A Vice President Left in the Shadows
The memoir also shines a light on Harris's frustrations with the White House communications team and Biden's inner circle. She reportedly recounts feeling abandoned as she faced relentless attacks from right-wing critics and media outlets. Despite a "huge comms team" and daily press briefings, Harris says she struggled to get positive coverage or any meaningful defense against falsehoods, as reported by the Daily Mail. She singles out Fox News for particularly harsh treatment, including mocking her for allegedly faking a French accent during a visit to Paris.
Harris also reveals a sense of isolation within the administration. According to the Daily Mail, she reportedly notes that during Biden's speech announcing his decision to end the reelection bid, her name was not mentioned until nearly the end of the address. This omission symbolized a broader pattern of being sidelined. She writes that the president's team seemed indifferent to her rising popularity in polls, viewing her success as a zero-sum game that dimmed Biden's own standing rather than enhancing it.
Her account suggests a White House environment where internal rivalries and insecurities undermined a unified front. Harris describes how her office faced high staff turnover and was labeled "chaotic," as reported by the Daily Mail — criticisms she reportedly attributes in part to gendered stereotypes and the challenges of being the first woman vice president. She also recounts being criticized for delivering a speech on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, even though the text was approved by the White House, illustrating the contradictory pressures she faced.
Defending Biden While Critiquing
Despite her sharp critique, Harris does not abandon her defense of Biden's character and capabilities. She denies any conspiracy to cover up his age-related decline, insisting that even on his worst days, Biden was more knowledgeable and compassionate than his opponent, Donald Trump. Yet, she acknowledges the toll the campaign took on him, noting simply that "Joe got tired," as reported by Reuters.
This nuanced stance reflects the emotional complexity of her position. Harris was thrust into the spotlight with only 107 days to make her case to the American public after Biden's withdrawal. She faced the impossible task of rallying a divided party while navigating the fraught legacy of her own vice presidency. Her memoir reveals a woman caught between loyalty to a president she respects and the need to assert her own voice amid a turbulent political landscape.
The Fallout and Future
Since the election, Harris has kept a relatively low profile, recently announcing she will not run for governor of California. Her memoir, set for release soon, promises to be a revealing document of a historic but difficult chapter in American politics. It exposes the personal and political struggles behind the scenes, the cost of ambition, and the challenges of breaking new ground as the first woman, first South Asian, and first Black vice president.
For readers, "107 Days" offers more than political gossip or campaign drama. It is a deeply personal reckoning that blends insight with accountability, loyalty with self-advocacy. Harris's story invites reflection on the limits of power, the burdens of leadership, and the human cost of political recklessness.
References: Kamala Harris says allowing 2024 Biden candidacy was 'recklessness' | UK News | Breaking news & latest updates | Kamala Harris rips 'reckless' Biden in shameless effort to sell new book as she turns on Joe publicly for first time
