Vice President Kamala Harris is sharing her unfiltered views on Joe Biden’s controversial decision to run for reelection in 2024. In her upcoming memoir, 107 Days, Harris does not hold back, calling his choice “recklessness” and reflecting on the high stakes that ultimately led to Donald Trump’s return to office.

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Biden’s Late Exit and Harris’s Rapid Campaign

Joe Biden left the presidential race in July 2024, only three months before the November election. His decision came after mounting concerns over his age and physical stamina, which spiked following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June. As a result, Harris suddenly became the Democratic frontrunner. She then launched a whirlwind 107-day campaign that captivated voters but ended with Trump securing reelection.

Harris on Why She Saw Biden’s Decision as Reckless

In excerpts obtained by The Atlantic, Harris reflected candidly on Biden’s choice to run again.

Kamala Harris:

“I think it was recklessness. The stakes were simply too high. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.”

She further admitted that she sometimes regretted not warning Biden against running, even though she worried about how such advice would be perceived.

Kamala Harris:

“Perhaps I should have spoken up. But the American people had chosen him before in the same matchup. Maybe he was right to believe they would do so again.”

According to Harris, raising objections would have looked dangerously self-interested.

Kamala Harris:

“He would see it as naked ambition, perhaps as poisonous disloyalty, even if my only message was: Don’t let the other guy win.”

Moreover, Harris explained that she and Biden’s inner circle saw the decision as belonging to Joe and Jill Biden alone.

Kamala Harris:

“At the time, we believed it was Joe and Jill’s decision. In hindsight, I realize that wasn’t the wisest call.”

Acknowledging Biden’s Strengths but Highlighting His Age

Although Harris criticized Biden’s decision to run, she made clear that she never questioned his fundamental ability to govern.

Kamala Harris:

“On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best.”

Still, she acknowledged that his age often showed in moments of fatigue.

Kamala Harris:

“At 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

She connected his weak debate showing to an exhausting schedule.

Kamala Harris:

“I don’t think it’s any surprise that the debate debacle happened right after two back-to-back trips to Europe and a flight to the West Coast for a Hollywood fundraiser.”

Despite her criticism, she reaffirmed that loyalty to country would always outweigh loyalty to a president.

Kamala Harris:

“If I believed that Biden couldn’t be president, I would have said so. As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country.”

Frustrations with the White House Response to Attacks

In addition to Biden’s reelection bid, Harris also recounted frustrations with how the White House handled attacks against her. She recalled false claims and disparaging remarks from conservative media outlets.

Kamala Harris:

“Fox News mocked my laugh, called me a ‘DEI hire,’ and questioned my legitimacy. The White House rarely pushed back.”

Although the administration had a large communications team, Harris argued they did little to defend her work.

Kamala Harris:

“They had Karine Jean-Pierre briefing every day, but getting anything positive said about my work or any defense against untrue attacks was almost impossible.”

Worse, she claimed Biden’s staff sometimes fueled the negative stories themselves.

Kamala Harris:

“I often learned that the president’s staff was adding fuel to negative narratives… It seemed as if they decided I should be knocked down a little bit more.”

Harris suggested the motive was fear of being overshadowed.

Kamala Harris:

“Their thinking was zero-sum: If she’s shining, he’s dimmed. None of them grasped that if I did well, he did well. My success was important for him. His team didn’t get it.”

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The Bigger Picture

Harris argued that her success should have reassured voters about Biden’s decision to choose her as his running mate. Furthermore, it would have given Americans more confidence that if anything happened to the president, the country would remain in steady hands. Instead, she felt that the White House staff’s resistance hurt both her and Biden’s standing.

Release Date

Harris’s memoir, 107 Days, will be released on September 23. BuzzFeed has reached out to Biden’s representatives for comment but has not yet received a response.