When Kamala Harris implied that Joe Biden was racist during a Democratic primary debate before the 2020 election, Jill Biden’s response was explicit. She reportedly told supporters on a conference call to “Go f**k yourself.” The relationship between Jill Biden and Kamala Harris, which started poorly during the contentious battle for the presidential nomination, has only worsened.
Political insiders have revealed that Jill Biden’s animosity toward Harris is a significant factor in Joe Biden’s resistance to stepping down as the presidential candidate and allowing Harris to take his place. According to a former Democratic operative, Jill’s grudge against Harris is partly why she opposes her husband stepping aside. Jill’s voice is now the most influential one to which the president listens. For Jill, the only thing worse than Joe stepping down would be Kamala replacing him.
The bad blood between Jill and Kamala dates back to June 2019, when Kamala condemned Joe Biden during a televised debate for opposing aspects of mandatory busing for school desegregation. Jill has not forgiven Kamala for comments that some interpreted as allegations of racism. Jill reportedly never wanted Kamala to be Joe’s running mate in the first place but bit her tongue because Joe had committed to choosing a Black woman as his running mate.
Recently, Joe Biden has faced increasing pressure to step down. Eighteen House Democrats and one Senator have called on him to drop out of the 2024 race. Hollywood star and former Biden supporter George Clooney also joined the calls for Biden to step down, writing an op-ed for the New York Times urging him to do so. Clooney, who co-hosted a fundraiser for Biden’s campaign, expressed that while he admires Biden, he believes it is time for him to step aside.
Former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler echoed Clooney’s sentiments, stating that he believes Biden will eventually “do the right thing” and step down. Gansler pointed out that Biden’s selection of Kamala as his running mate was significant and that Biden recognizes he cannot win the election.
Biden’s recent debate performance against Trump and subsequent public appearances have fueled calls for him to step down. While public scrutiny focuses on Biden’s mental acuity, insiders suggest that Jill Biden is the real power behind the throne, wanting to stay in the White House and keep Kamala Harris out.
