President Joe Biden’s occasional awkward comments about Vice President Kamala Harris, such as referring to her as the actual president, have become a familiar occurrence. This slip of the tongue has been noted since Biden’s inauguration and continues to surface, even after three years in office. During a recent appearance with Harris to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Biden made remarks that highlighted their dynamic.
In his speech, Biden humorously introduced himself as “Joe Biden” and quipped, “I work for Kamala Harris,” eliciting laughter from the audience. He playfully acknowledged that he selected Harris as his vice president because he recognized the need for someone smarter than himself. While meant in jest, Biden’s comments may have touched on a sensitive topic, considering the nuances surrounding his choice of Harris as a running mate.
Harris, who also ran for president herself, faced challenges during her campaign, including debates with Biden. Their interactions were not always smooth, as detailed in Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns’s book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future,” where Jill Biden’s initial skepticism about Harris’s candidacy is mentioned. Biden’s remarks about Harris during the recent event added a layer of complexity to their political history.
During his speech, Biden also encountered difficulties with the teleprompter, a recurring issue. This led to moments of confusion and rambling, particularly when discussing topics like diversity and the strength of various cultures in America. Additionally, his mispronunciation of Harris’s name further contributed to the awkwardness of the event.
The mention of Harris continued in a more cringeworthy manner when Biden touched on abortion and referenced his efforts to support Roe v. Wade. This brought attention to the Democratic Party’s stance on abortion rights, which they often emphasize, sometimes tangentially to the main theme of a speech. Biden’s mispronunciation of Harris’s name during this segment added to the overall awkwardness of his remarks.
The broader context of Biden and Harris’s interactions, including media coverage and political narratives, also played a role in amplifying the scrutiny of Biden’s comments. This was evident in past headlines highlighting the mispronunciation of Harris’s name by GOP members, as well as Harris’s own recent remarks at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Legislative Leadership Summit.
In summary, Biden’s comments about Harris, while sometimes intended humorously, can add to the complexity of their political relationship and the broader narratives surrounding their administration’s policies and priorities.
