Harris recalls White House anxiety over Biden’s readiness to run again

Vice President Kamala Harris has revealed that she endured months of uncertainty about whether President Joe Biden was capable of seeking another term, according to excerpts from her forthcoming memoir.

In her book, Harris reflects on her private conflict over Biden’s condition, her failure to step in, and her conclusion that he remained a competent leader despite her initial alarm, Breitbart reported.

The memoir, titled "107 Days," includes a candid look at Harris’s thoughts during Biden’s reelection deliberations. Portions of the book were released by The Atlantic and provide a rare glimpse into the vice president’s personal doubts and political considerations.

Growing Tension Inside the Administration

Harris admitted that she sensed Biden might not be fit to run again, leading to what she described as months of escalating unease. She recalled the pressure of deciding whether to raise her concerns directly with the president. Ultimately, she refrained, later calling this decision a form of recklessness.

She explained that the American people had already chosen Biden once in a race against Donald Trump. For her, that fact weighed heavily against the idea of intervening. Harris noted that she frequently reminded herself that it was “Joe and Jill’s decision.”

Her account makes clear that the White House was well aware of Biden’s visible signs of strain. Stumbles in speeches and physical fatigue often drew scrutiny, which she attributed to his age and demanding travel schedule.

Balancing Loyalty and Responsibility

In one of the excerpts, Harris admitted that she questioned whether she should have advised Biden not to run. “During all those months of growing panic, should I have told Joe to consider not running? Perhaps,” she wrote. She followed this by acknowledging that, in retrospect, her silence was reckless because of the stakes involved.

Despite this, Harris emphasized that she never believed Biden was incapacitated. She argued that if she had reached that conclusion, she would have said so. Instead, she viewed him as an experienced leader still capable of fulfilling his duties.

Harris also reflected on the difficulty of balancing her personal loyalty to Biden with her responsibility to the country. She admitted that no decisive steps were taken to discourage him from pursuing another term, even as her misgivings grew.

Harris’s Defense of Biden’s Abilities

Although she described her inaction as reckless, Harris also defended Biden’s capability. She wrote that he remained a “smart guy with long experience and deep conviction,” and someone who was able to carry out the responsibilities of the presidency.

Harris contrasted Biden’s qualities with those of his predecessor, stating that even on his worst days, he was more informed, more capable of judgment, and more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best. This comparison underscored her belief that Biden was still the stronger choice for the nation.

She further acknowledged that Biden’s occasional difficulties in speech or appearance were tied to natural factors of age and travel rather than evidence of incapacity. She reiterated that if she had thought otherwise, she would have spoken out.

Looking Back on Political Struggles

Harris also criticized the way her own campaign was undercut by Biden and the White House. This acknowledgment points to underlying tensions between the two leaders during the campaign period. She wrote that these struggles added to her sense of conflict about how to respond to his candidacy.

The vice president admitted that “alarm bells” about Biden’s health and performance had been ringing in the White House for months. Yet despite this awareness, her team and others close to Biden did not press for a different outcome.

Harris’s remarks suggest that she was caught between the expectations of loyalty and the weight of duty, a tension she continues to analyze in her memoir. She closes her reflections with the view that the choice to remain silent was not ideal, but still justified by her assessment of Biden’s fundamental capability.