Washington: Joe Biden’s remarks that he would’ve beaten Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential elections had he been the democrat candidate have not gone down well with his deputy Kamala Harris who was in the race against Trump and reportedly widen the rift between the two following the poll debacle.
According to the Wall Street Journal Harris has conveyed her discontentment to close allies and family members she is disappointed with Biden’s remarks, straining relations between the outgoing US president and her deputy in last few days at the White House.
Harris has consistently avoided distancing herself from Biden or criticising him during her tenure as vice president. Despite pressure from several top Democrats to separate herself from the unpopular president after she succeeded him on the ticket, Harris stood firm.
She openly backed Biden following his faltering debate performance in June, even as many Democrats urged him to step aside. Similarly, she defended him when a special counsel report on his handling of classified documents heightened concerns about his mental sharpness.
Kamala Harris’ US election contest and Biden’s remarks
Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 US presidential race following a poor showing against Trump in the first debate of the election season. Pressure from within the Democratic Party to replace Biden culminated in his decision to step aside, paving the way for Kamala Harris to become the party’s nominee.
Recently, Biden claimed that had he remained in the race, he would have ultimately secured victory. It is worth noting, however, that during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where Harris was officially named the party’s presidential candidate, Biden himself publicly endorsed her candidacy.
Harris was defeated by Donald Trump who is set to take oath as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, Inauguration Day.