Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has called it “reckless” that President Joe Biden was allowed to run for a second term, according to an excerpt released Wednesday from her upcoming memoir.
Harris, who later stepped in to replace Biden as the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election but eventually lost to Donald Trump, explained that Biden, who was 81 years old at the time, often showed signs of his age. She admitted that he would get tired easily and sometimes made physical and verbal stumbles that reminded people just how old he was.
In her memoir, Harris also strongly criticized members of the White House staff. She accused them of failing to support her during her time as vice president and even suggested that, at times, they deliberately worked against her. According to Harris, Biden’s close team did not want her to appear stronger or more capable than the president himself.
She recalled how, inside the administration, many people would repeat the phrase, It’s Joe and Jill’s decision, whenever the question of Biden running again came up. Harris said it was almost like everyone was hypnotized into accepting this idea without question. But looking back, she feels it was not grace or loyalty that kept people silent, it was carelessness. She argued that letting Biden run again was irresponsible because the stakes for the country were too high. A decision this important, she wrote, should not have been left to one person’s personal pride or ambition.
The turning point came in July 2024, when Biden shocked the nation by dropping out of the race. This happened shortly after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, which raised widespread doubts about his mental sharpness and fitness to serve.
Harris insisted in her book that there was no secret plan to cover up Biden’s condition. However, she admitted it was obvious to those around him that age was becoming a problem. Still, she defended Biden’s abilities, writing that even on his worst days, he remained more knowledgeable, more compassionate, and better at making judgments than Trump on his best days.
Even so, Harris acknowledged that age took its toll. At 81, Biden grew tired quickly, and when that happened, his mistakes and weaknesses became visible for everyone to see.
Harris also opened up about her own struggles inside the administration. She said she was often blamed unfairly, especially for Biden’s border policy, an issue that Trump used heavily during his campaign. She claimed that Biden’s staff members did little to defend her and at times seemed pleased when negative stories about her spread. Harris felt this was because they wanted to make sure she did not overshadow the president.
In the end, Harris’s own presidential campaign lasted just 107 days, making it the shortest modern campaign in U.S. history. Despite her efforts, she lost badly to Trump. The title of her memoir, 107 Days, is a direct reference to that short and difficult period.
