President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, has soured at times since the November election, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The Wall Street Journal said that tension has formed in the White House since Harris lost to President-elect Donald Trump. Harris’ loss followed Biden dropping out of the race in July after weeks of urging from Democratic allies.
The calls for Biden to end his bid largely centered around concerns over the president’s mental and physical fitness, which spiked after his dismal performance in a June debate with Trump.
People familiar with the relationship the Bidens share with Harris and Emhoff told the Wall Street Journal it has been “frosty” in some recent private settings. The first lady has also not been fond of Harris since the 2020 presidential election, when she accused Biden of opposing school busing in the 1970s, according to the report.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but denied to the Wall Street Journal any negative impact on the relationship since the election. Spokesperson Andrew Bates reportedly said Biden has supported Harris’ campaign efforts publicly and privately since Election Day.
Kirsten Allen, a spokesperson for Harris, reportedly also told the publication the “close working relationship” between the vice president and Biden has extended to their spouses.
There are reportedly also post-election concerns among White House staff. Some Harris aides have refrained from directly blaming the vice president’s loss on Biden, but have privately claimed having more time to campaign would have benefited her, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Washington Post reported Saturday that Biden, along with some of his aides, still believe he should have continued his 2024 campaign. The president reportedly has recently told people he could have defeated Trump, who he beat in 2020.
Biden has also acknowledged that he “screwed up” in the June debate, according to The Washington Post.
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