Biden isn’t done dragging Kamala down with him. Now he’s going national with his tell-all mentality.
And Joe Biden broke Kamala Harris’ brain after admitting one secret about her.
Biden Addresses Harris Campaign Narrative
In a candid Thursday interview on ABC’s The View, former President Joe Biden pushed back against claims that he pressured former Vice President Kamala Harris to avoid distancing herself from him during her 2024 presidential campaign. Co-host Sunny Hostin revisited a pivotal moment from Harris’ October 2024 appearance on the show, where Harris, when asked if she would have done anything differently from Biden, replied, “not a thing comes to mind.” Hostin noted that this response was “weaponized against her,” citing reports that Biden had privately insisted “there could be no daylight” between them. Biden firmly denied giving such advice, offering a nuanced defense of Harris’ campaign and their shared record.
“Well, look, first of all, I did not advise her to say that, number one. Like I said, I was vice president. I understand the role, number one,” Biden stated. He suggested Harris’ comment reflected pride in their administration’s successes, not an unwillingness to carve her own path. “I think she was talking about, she wouldn’t have changed the successes we had, not opposed to, we wouldn’t change anything at all. She has to be her own person, and she was. She was,” he added. Biden argued that Harris’ words were misconstrued, emphasizing her individuality and contributions to their joint achievements.
Tensions Over Loyalty and Legacy
Behind the scenes, a different dynamic reportedly unfolded. According to The Final Fight by reporters Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen, Biden publicly encouraged Harris to do what was necessary to win but privately stressed unity. The book claims Biden “would say publicly that Harris should do what she must to win.
But privately, including in conversations with her, he repeated an admonition: let there be no daylight between us.” On the day of a critical debate, Biden allegedly called Harris to deliver “an unusual kind of pep talk” and reinforce his expectation that she protect his legacy.
“Whether she won or lost the election, he thought, she would only harm him by publicly distancing herself from him — especially during a debate that would be watched by millions of Americans,” the authors wrote. This tension underscored Biden’s desire to preserve his record, even as Harris sought to establish her own identity.
The book’s portrayal paints a complex picture of Biden’s influence, suggesting he was reluctant to give Harris space to diverge from his policies. “To the extent that she wanted to forge her own path, Biden had no interest in giving her room to do so,” Parnes and Allen noted. This dynamic fueled criticism that Biden’s loyalty demands constrained Harris’ ability to differentiate herself, a challenge compounded by the compressed timeline of her campaign after Biden’s withdrawal.
Campaign Timeline and Broader Reflections
Hostin pressed Biden on whether he should have exited the presidential race earlier than July 21, 2024, to give Harris more time to campaign. With only August, September, October, and a few additional weeks to build her candidacy, Harris faced a roughly 90-day sprint.
Biden defended his decision, stating, “I say, number one, that there were still six full months, she was in every aspect, every decision I made, every decision we made, and I don’t think, I hope I don’t sound the wrong way. I don’t think anybody thought we’d be successful as we were.”
He highlighted Harris’ integral role in their administration, framing her campaign as an extension of their shared successes.
Reflecting on Harris’ election loss to President Trump, Biden pointed to systemic issues, asserting that “s*xism and racism” played a significant role.
He expressed little surprise at Trump’s victory, acknowledging the challenges Harris faced. Hostin echoed this perspective, stating, “As a country, it’s very difficult for people to believe that racism and misogyny, they’re just alive and well.”
She cited her own “lived experience” and a graph showing “a clear racial divide” in voter preferences, reinforcing the impact of these factors.
“I think that we don’t want to think that about ourselves, our neighbors, our friends, but it’s – my lived experience tells me that it does still exist, even if your lived experience doesn’t tell that it exists and, you know, the facts support that,” she added.
The discussion underscored the broader societal dynamics that shaped the election, leaving Biden and Hostin to grapple with the persistent barriers Harris encountered.
