Kamala Harris Calls Biden Reelection Decision Reckless But Defends Him/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In her upcoming memoir 107 Days, Kamala Harris criticizes Democrats for leaving President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection decision to him alone, calling it “recklessness.” She defends Biden’s knowledge and compassion, while acknowledging that fatigue at age 81 led to stumbles. Harris also accuses Biden’s staff of undermining her during her vice presidency to protect him.
Harris on Biden 2024 — Quick Looks
- New book: 107 Days, out Sept. 23 via Simon & Schuster
- Criticism: Says leaving reelection choice to Biden was “recklessness”
- Biden’s exit: Dropped out July 2024 after disastrous debate performance
- Defense: Harris insists Biden was tired, not incapacitated
- Comparison: Said Biden’s worst day outshone Trump’s best
- West Wing tension: Staff allegedly fueled negative press about Harris
- Selma speech: Ceasefire remarks in Gaza drew backlash from Biden aides
- Broader point: Undermining her, Harris argues, also hurt Biden’s standing
- Perspective: Her success should have been seen as Biden’s strength
Deep Look: Harris Labels Biden Reelection Decision Reckless, But Stands By His Capabilities
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Kamala Harris is offering her sharpest critique yet of how Democrats handled the 2024 election cycle, calling it “recklessness” to leave the reelection decision solely in the hands of President Joe Biden.
In excerpts from her forthcoming memoir, 107 Days, published Wednesday by The Atlantic, Harris recounts the tumultuous months before Biden’s campaign collapsed and reflects on the personal and political fallout.
“Grace, Or Recklessness?”
As pressure mounted in 2023 and early 2024 over whether Biden — then 81 — should seek another term, Harris said Democrats, herself included, deferred too much to Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness,” Harris writes.
Biden’s decision to run ended in disaster. A poor debate performance in June 2024 accelerated doubts about his stamina, leading him to withdraw from the race in July 2024. Harris inherited the top of the ticket but ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump in November.
Defending Biden’s Capacity
Despite her critique, Harris continues to defend Biden’s ability to govern, even at his most vulnerable moments. She portrays Biden as deeply competent, though sometimes physically drained by the demands of the presidency.
“On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best,” she writes.
“At 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles. I don’t believe it was incapacity.”
Harris insists that if she had believed Biden was mentally unfit, she would have spoken out.
Tensions Inside the West Wing
Beyond Biden’s decision-making, Harris uses her memoir to air long-suspected tensions with his inner circle.
She accuses Biden’s staff of feeding negative media narratives about her, from stories about turnover in her office to portrayals of her leadership as disorganized.
“When the stories were unfair or inaccurate, the president’s inner circle seemed fine with it. Indeed, it seemed as if they decided I should be knocked down a little bit more,” Harris writes.
“I was castigated for, apparently, delivering it too well,” Harris recalls.
Harris: Undermining Me Weakened Biden
Harris argues that the White House’s efforts to keep her profile low backfired, especially given growing concerns about Biden’s age.
Her success, she writes, would have been evidence of Biden’s good judgment in selecting a capable vice president, reassuring voters about continuity of leadership.
“My success was important for him. His team didn’t get it.”
Looking Back at 2024
Harris acknowledges the historical scrutiny she faced as the nation’s first female vice president. The 107 days referenced in her book’s title highlight the length of her brief presidential campaign after Biden stepped aside.
Though she stops short of blaming Biden directly for her 2024 loss, Harris makes clear that leaving the reelection decision entirely to him was a miscalculation for Democrats — one that reshaped history.
The Biden office has not commented on Harris’s remarks.
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