President Joe Biden insisted that Vice President Kamala Harris remained a “key player” in his administration — even as he faces criticism over multiple crises facing his administration.
The president surprised reporters in the briefing room Friday to address the union port strike, ongoing hurricane recovery and escalating conflict in the Middle East.
After a reporter asked him for his opinion on how his vice president was performing, he insisted that Harris was a full participant in everything they did.
‘I am in constant contact with her. She is aware of it. We are singing from the same hymn sheet,” Biden responded. “She helped pass all the laws that are now in effect. She was a key player in everything we did.”
Biden’s surprise appearance in the briefing room upstaged Harris, who was just about to speak at a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan.
US President Joe Biden jokes with the news media as he leaves the daily briefing in the White House press conference room
CNN reported afterward that they were about to broadcast Harris’ comments live before Biden appeared in the briefing room, who “clearly overshadowed her.”
“Is that a communication error? Isn’t the left hand speaking the right hand in this situation?” one of the CNN anchors wondered.
At her rally in Michigan, Harris boasted about the pause in the port strike and the promising new jobs report.
But the president appears to have stolen her thunder, making a splashy debut with his performance in the White House press conference room for the first time as president.
Harris made no reference to President Biden during her rally, even as she celebrated the administration’s efforts to restore the economy.
US President Joe Biden responds to a question from the news media together with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during the daily briefing at the White House
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak with supporters at the Redford Fire Department on October 4, 2024 in Redford, Michigan.
Biden continues to face criticism from Republicans over the ongoing chaos in the Middle East after Iran launched missiles against Israel in retaliation for military strikes on Hezbollah.
Harris and Biden have also been criticized for their slow response to Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina and Florida.
After visiting hurricane victims in Georgia on Wednesday, Harris returned to the campaign trail in earnest, with plans to visit storm victims in North Carolina on Saturday.
Biden is reportedly disappointed with Harris as she appears to be distancing herself from him and ignoring the successes of their administration.
A comedy skit from Saturday Night Live last weekend only emphasized the atmosphere after a doddering Biden character was pushed aside by the Harris character before he could finish.
Harris has repeatedly reminded those on the campaign trail that she is “obviously” not Joe Biden and offers a “new generation of leadership.”
At the same time, Biden has argued that he still could have defeated Donald Trump even if he dropped out of his reelection race and endorsed Harris.
“I never really believed the claims that there was somehow overwhelming resistance to running again,” Biden said during an interview with The View last week. “The fact is, my poll numbers always managed to beat this guy.”