Biden wants the public to know how much he loves Kamala Harris. But behind the scenes it’s a different story.
As Joe Biden makes a jaw-dropping admission about how he really feels about Kamala Harris.
In recent reports, President Joe Biden has been privately expressing frustration over Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign strategy, particularly her lack of focus on his presidency and “Bidenomics” during her recent speeches.
Sources close to the president suggest that he feels sidelined as the Democratic Party shifts its focus towards Harris ahead of the 2024 election.
Biden, now 81, has reportedly confided in his allies that since he exited the 2024 race in July, it seems like the party, and especially Harris, have “moved on” from him.
With Election Day approaching, Biden is concerned that his “accomplishments” are not receiving the attention he believes they deserve. According to an NBC News report, Biden’s allies say that this lack of recognition has been weighing on him.
One incident that reportedly upset Biden involved Harris invoking his name during her September 10 debate against former President Donald Trump. Rather than praising his policies, she made a clear distinction between her and Biden’s leadership.
Responding to Trump’s criticism that she was aligned with Biden on economic policy, Harris said, “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden. And I am certainly not Donald Trump. And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.”
This moment particularly stung the president, as he reportedly feels that Harris should be emphasizing his economic policies, especially when discussing the “positive trajectory” of the economy. According to the NBC News report, those close to Biden say he’s been reflecting on his diminishing presence in the national conversation since endorsing Harris after his decision to step aside from the race.
“It’s very complex,” a source familiar with Biden’s feelings explained, noting that the president has been grappling with his fading influence in the campaign. While Biden remains committed to supporting Harris, sources say he’s been “anguishing over his imprint’s vanishing from the national stage,” and feels that much of his legacy is tied to whether or not Harris can defeat Trump in November.
Despite his concerns, the president seems to understand why Harris is distancing herself from his administration’s record.
“He understands completely the general lack of mentioning ‘Bidenomics’ and ‘Joe Biden.’ Politically he gets that,” a source told NBC News, indicating that Biden acknowledges the strategic reasoning behind Harris focusing on her own platform.
Biden’s allies, however, note that he still feels “loyal” to Harris and is prepared to assist her campaign in any way possible, even if he sometimes feels “left behind.”
In defense of Harris’ strategy, a campaign official explained that it’s important for voters to get to know Harris on her own terms. “There wasn’t a real interest in hearing about [Biden’s] accomplishments when he was running,” the official said. “That’s still the case.”
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, however, pushed back against the narrative, calling the report “the polar opposite of the truth,” insisting there is no rift between the president and his vice president.
But how can there not be? President Biden was practically forced out of running for reelection and replaced as the Democrat nominee with his own Vice President, Kamala Harris.
Most people would feel conflicted about supporting Harris if they were in Biden’s shoes.
But the president knows what has to be done at this point. If he were to go against the Democrat machine and publicly criticize Harris, his legacy would be tarnished even more than it already is.
That’s why he’s expressing his frustrations in private…at least for now.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.