Harris criticizes Biden's decision to run for re-election in new memoir

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has been outspoken in her criticism of Biden's decision to run for re-election in 2024, calling it "reckless" in a new memoir set to be released on September 23.

Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden attend an event at the Pentagon in September 2024 - Photo: AFP

Excerpts published by The Atlantic magazine on September 10 show that Ms. Harris no longer maintains her usual absolute loyalty, but instead expresses dissatisfaction with her role in the administration of former President Joe Biden.

In her memoir, Ms. Harris recounted feeling sidelined in the White House. She said Chief of Staff Lorraine Voles repeatedly fought to keep her from being a “landscape” at events, instead of speaking or introducing the president.

She also criticized the White House for not protecting her from persistent attacks from Fox News, which targeted her voice, laughter, personal life as a young woman, and even claimed that she was only appointed based on diversity criteria in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiative.

"Rarely does the White House mention my true record: two terms as a district attorney, leading the second-largest judiciary in the United States, and serving as a senator representing one-eighth of the American population," Ms. Harris wrote.

As for Mr. Biden's decision to run for re-election, the former Vice President said it should not be a personal choice.

"Was it generosity or recklessness? Looking back, I think it was reckless. The stakes were too high to allow one person's ego and ambition to dictate the outcome," she stressed. However, Ms. Harris admitted that she was also in a difficult position, because if she advised Mr. Biden not to run, she would be seen as self-serving.

"He would have seen it as naked ambition, even malicious betrayal, even if my only message had been: don't let your opponent win," she wrote in her memoir.

Ms Harris also described the atmosphere at the White House as one of resignation. "We were all saying, 'It's Joe and Jill's decision,' like a mantra."

She recounted that in his Oval Office speech when Mr. Biden announced his withdrawal from the race, it was not until the ninth minute of the 11 minutes that he mentioned her name.

Still, Ms. Harris defended Mr. Biden's mental capacity, asserting that the difficulties he encountered were due to fatigue due to age, not cognitive decline.

"On his worst days, he is more insightful, more judgmental, and more compassionate than Donald Trump at his best. But at 81, Joe tires easily. That's when his age shows through in stumbling speech and demeanor.

"It's not incapacitation. If I believed it, I would have said so. Whatever my loyalty to President Biden, I'm more loyal to the country," Ms. Harris affirmed.

Her memoir, 107 Days, will be released alongside a 15-city book tour in the US, UK and Canada. Joe and Jill Biden's office declined to comment on the excerpts.

HA DAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ba-harris-chi-trich-quyet-dinh-tai-tranh-cu-cua-ong-biden-trong-hoi-ky-moi-20250911112902353.htm