The ongoing feud between First Lady Dr.
Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has reportedly persisted beyond the election period, casting a gloomy atmosphere over the White House.
The Wall Street Journal recently detailed the final months of the Biden presidency, painting a picture of a 'depressing' and 'draining' environment, with the tension reaching the highest echelons of power.
According to the Daily Mail, the relationship between President Joe Biden, Dr. Biden, Vice President Harris, and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, has been described as 'frosty' in private settings since Harris' election loss on November 5th. The report suggests that Dr. Biden's animosity towards Harris stems from the latter's aggressive stance against Biden during the first Democratic debate of the 2020 cycle in June 2019. Harris had notably criticized Biden for his opposition to busing policies that facilitated school desegregation.
The tension between the two women has not been confined to private quarters. During the first public appearance of the President and Vice President following the Democrats' loss of the White House to President-elect Donald Trump, Dr. Biden was observed sitting expressionless next to Harris and Emhoff. This event, the traditional Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, took place a mere six days after Harris' defeat.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Dr. Biden wore a red pantsuit, traditionally associated with Republicans, on Election Day. This led to conjecture among Trump supporters that she may not have been rooting for Harris. Fox News host Emily Compagno even suggested that the First Lady's outfit choice indicated a vote for Trump, a claim that, while highly improbable, was interpreted as a subtle dig at Harris.
The strained relationship was further highlighted at the Kennedy Center Honors earlier this month. Observers noted that neither of the Bidens acknowledged Harris or Emhoff when the crowd stood to welcome them. However, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates and Harris' spokesperson Kirsten Allen both denied any rift, asserting that Biden and Harris share a close working relationship and friendship that extends to their spouses.
Despite these official denials, sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Dr. Biden harbors resentment over the treatment of her husband. Following his poor performance in a June 27 debate against Trump, Biden was pressured by top party leaders to step aside, which he did on July 21, endorsing Harris shortly thereafter.
One insider claimed, "Jill views Democrats on Capitol Hill, the [wider] party, the Obamas, staff inside and outside the White House, the media, and all of Washington, D.C. with such misguided resentment that I can't imagine she [isn't] encouraging [Joe] to burn the whole thing down, despite his better judgment."
Reports from The Washington Post and the Journal suggest that Biden privately believes he could have won the election had he remained in the race. While he has not criticized the Harris campaign's efforts, he has reportedly pointed out his previous victory over Trump. However, the political landscape in 2020 was markedly different, with Trump's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic a key issue. Four years later, voters fondly remembered the 2019 Trump economy, while incumbents worldwide were losing power due to economies still reeling from the pandemic.
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