Jill Biden is giving Kamala Harris the cold shoulder after husband Joe was forced out of the race and the vice president lost to Trump
It’s an unseasonably warm 72 degrees in Washington, DC today, but conditions looked downright frigid in the VIP viewing area at Arlington National Cemetery.
Jill Biden, eyes hidden behind sunglasses, looked stoic as she sat next to Kamala Harris as her husband, President Joe Biden, delivered his Veterans Day speech.
The first lady stared straight ahead as the vice president grinned and leaned into her husband, Doug Emhoff, who sat on her other side.
There have long been reports that there is no love lost between Jill Biden and Harris, a feud dating back to the 2020 Democratic primaries when Harris attacked Joe Biden during the first primary debate.
The first lady did campaign for Harris after her husband was forced to drop his re-election bid, but also had little choice because Harris’ campaign was seen as crucial to upholding Joe Biden’s legacy.
But now the votes have been counted and the results show that Harris lost to Donald Trump in a landslide, leaving the Harris camp and Biden’s allies to blame each other for the Democrats’ epic Election Day defeats.
Jill Biden and Kamala Harris Monday at Arlington National Cemetery
Veterans Day marked the first time President Biden and Vice President Harris have seen each other since the election.
Biden and Harris, looking stoic, stood side by side to mark Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery on Monday morning.
The two couples traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to watch Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
None of them said anything as they walked to their positions to lay the wreath.
The first lady wore black clothing in honor of Veterans Day, a day of remembrance for American military veterans. She entered Arlington National Cemetery ahead of the president to take her place with the rest of the crowd. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff joined her.
Jill and Doug watched as Biden laid the wreath and crossed himself. Harris was at his side.
They then followed their spouses to the amphitheater where the president addressed veterans and members of the military.
Jill Biden had greeted Emhoff enthusiastically. They chatted as they took their seats and waited for the speeches to begin. The two spouses have been close for a long time.
But when Harris sat down between them, Jill turned her attention to the ceremony.
The first lady is known to hold grudges.
She and Hunter Biden influenced Joe Biden’s decision to run for a second term. Jill was part of the group surrounding the president when he was pressured by party leaders to drop out of the presidential race.
Biden endorsed Harris to replace him.
And Jill campaigned for Harris in several battleground states.
During her campaign stops, the first lady praised get-out-the-vote efforts, reminding voters in each state when early voting begins and urging them to cast their ballots.
She also pushed aside reports that there were tensions between her and Harris in the early days of the Biden administration, after Harris went after Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic primaries, to talk about the Harris she has come to know.
“As Kamala and I have known each other over the past four years, we have bonded over many things, but one of the things we talked about is how we lost our mothers, both to cancer, both long before we were born . I don’t need them anymore,” the first lady said.
She painted a more compassionate picture of Harris, talking about how the vice president cherishes a recipe from her mother and how she has fought for women all her life.
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris smile at each other as Jill Biden stares into space
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day
Jill Biden stands behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during the Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Veterans Day
Kamala Harris laughs during the Veterans Day speeches as Doug Emhoff looks on and Jill Biden sits next to her
She also addressed “lies” about Harris, who has been the subject of conspiracy theories and false claims from Trump.
“You’re probably hearing all kinds of lies about Kamala,” she said Friday evening at an event in Yuma. She then described Harris’ work as attorney general, senator and vice president of California.
Trump has falsely accused Harris of lying about her work at McDonalds as a teenager and misrepresented the role she played in the Biden administration’s work on border security.
Jill Biden also talked about Harris’ work fighting crime as attorney general and how she helped a high school friend who was living in an abusive situation.
“That’s the Kamala Harris I know: a fast, tough, compassionate and decisive leader,” she said.
President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) appeared together for the first time since Harris’ presidential election loss to former President Donald Trump
President Joe Biden salutes Monday during the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
During Monday’s program, when Office of Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera announced the presence of Harris and Emhoff, applause broke out in the crowd.
A number of attendees stood and gave Harris a standing ovation.
President Biden clapped heartily.
The president shouted out Harris as he began his speech, along with other top administration officials.
“This is the last time I will stand here in Arlington as commander in chief,” said Biden, who called the presidency the “greatest honor of my life.”
“To lead you, to serve you, to care for you, to defend you, just as you defended us, generation after generation after generation,” Biden continued. “You are the greatest fighting force. This is not an exaggeration.’
The president appeared to wipe away a tear during a performance of God Bless America.
In his comments, he mentioned his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015. Beau Biden served in Iraq as part of the Delaware National Guard.
President Biden claims burn pits located near where Beau was stationed contributed to his son’s death.