President Joe Biden will not be joining Vice President Kamala Harris for her election night watch party, instead choosing to monitor the results from the White House, just two miles away. This decision has drawn attention as the latest indication of a possible strain between Biden and Harris.
“Tonight, the president and First Lady will watch election results in the White House residence with longtime aides and senior White House staff,” a White House official told the Washington Examiner. “The president will receive regular updates on the state of races across the country.”
Harris’ event will be held at her alma mater, Howard University, which is located in Washington, D.C., a short distance from the White House. Some outlets, such as The Daily Wire, have reported that Biden’s recent actions suggest a lack of support for Harris, his former running mate.
During the sole debate between Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, Trump repeatedly claimed that Biden “hates” Harris, a statement he has continued to echo at his rallies. “He’s angry at her and he hates her. He can’t take much more. It was an overthrow,” Trump said, suggesting that Biden felt sidelined after Harris became the nominee. “He got 14 million votes. They threw him out. She got zero votes.”
Recent actions from Biden seem to provide more fuel to this narrative. In October, Biden was seen wearing a “Trump 2024” cap in a room of Trump supporters after initially hesitating. Whether this was a genuine oversight or a veiled criticism of Harris remains unclear.
In another instance, Biden unexpectedly joined a White House press briefing on the same day that Harris was campaigning in Michigan, emphasizing the alignment of their administration’s decisions. “I’m in constant contact with her,” Biden said. He noted that he and Harris “are singing from the same song sheet. She helped pass all the laws that are being employed now,” and continued by saying, “Her staff is interlocked with mine in terms of all the things we’re doing.”
Biden repeated a similar move shortly afterward when he made an appearance as Harris was live on *The View*. Additionally, after a major hurricane hit the southeast, Harris publicly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not returning her calls.
Biden then appeared to undercut this by sharing a photo of himself in direct contact with DeSantis. “Tonight, I spoke with Florida Governor DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Castor for firsthand reports on Hurricane Helene recovery and preparations for Hurricane Milton,” Biden posted on X. “My Administration is ready to support both leaders and the people of Florida with any further resources they may need.”
Last week, Biden reportedly added to the tension by referring to Trump’s supporters as “garbage” during a campaign call, according to The Daily Wire. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said, condemning Trump’s rhetoric as “totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”
As Election Day arrives, Biden has kept his distance from campaign events for Harris, now culminating in his absence from her election night gathering.
