Jill Biden complained about husband choosing Kamala Harris as running mate, book claims
Other claims in new account of administration’s first year include tensions between president and deputy’s teams
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.First Lady Jill Biden was apparently less than enthusiastic about Kamala Harris’ selection as her husband’s running mate, according to a new book reporting on the election and first year of the 46th president.
In This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future, which will be published in May, New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns write that the then-candidate’s wife was unimpressed by Ms Harris’s criticism of her husband during a primary debate in 2019.
“There are millions of people in the United States,” they quote Ms Biden saying, according to an extract obtained by Politico. “Why do we have to choose the one who attacked Joe?”
Ms Biden’s reported umbrage at the California Democrat dated back to an encounter the two candidates had on a debate stage in which Ms Harris called him out for previously working with segregationist members of Congress in what he had nostalgically described as an era of political civility.
Jill Biden receives praise after wearing blue dress emblazoned with sunflower in support of Ukraine at SOTU
Jill Biden makes fun of her husband’s VP confusion as poll shows most Americans question Joe Biden’s mental capacity
Jill Biden says free community college is ‘no longer’ in Democrats’ spending plans
“I do not believe you are a racist. And I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground,” Ms Harris said. “But I also believe – and it’s personal, and it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and careers on the segregation of race in this country.”
Another book, last year’s Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ Campaigns to Defeat Trump, claims that Ms Biden was incensed by Ms Harris’s remarks. According to author Edward-Isaac Dovere, she later railed against the candidate to a group of supporters on a conference call.
“With what he cares about, what he fights for, what he’s committed to, you get up there and call him a racist without basis?” she is quoted as saying. “Go f*** yourself.”
The first lady’s team have reiterated that Ms Biden will not be commenting on either book, or any others.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments