Kamala Harris Pushed Joe Biden for a Speedy Endorsement in the 2024 Election, According to Jill Biden

Former vice president Kamala Harris allegedly pressured then-president Joe Biden for a speedy endorsement after he decided to end his bid for a second term in office, according to former first lady Jill Biden’s new book.

Jill’s memoir about her time as the first lady of the United States, View from the East Wing, comes out on June 2. An excerpt shared by USA Today on Thursday, May 29, gives a glimpse into the history-making day when her husband, 83, called his vice president, 61, to break the news.

According to Jill’s book, Harris was immediately concerned with getting Joe’s endorsement to run in his place.

Jill, 74, writes that, when Joe broke the news he was dropping out, Harris first asked, “Oh my God, Joe. Are you sure?”

From there, the former attorney general reportedly switched to “her courtroom prosecutor mode” and immediately pushed Joe to endorse her as soon as possible to be the person who replaces him on the Democratic ticket.

Jill’s book states that Joe suggested he do it the following morning. However, Harris argued that any wasted time would leave the door open for other Democratic challengers.

“I want it sooner,” she allegedly said.

“I’ll call you back when I figure this out,” Joe responded.

“Could you do it soon?” Jill writes that Harris replied. “Say, in twenty minutes?”

The former first lady explains that she’d had enough of the conversation at that point and left the room while Joe finished the call with Harris. Joe ultimately went on to endorse Harris the same day that he announced he was ending his campaign.

Harris and Jill’s alleged friction dates back to 2019, when both Harris and Joe were on the campaign trail for the 2020 election. At the time, Harris attacked Joe’s record, prompting Jill to question his decision to ultimately choose her as his running mate, according to a report from The Guardian at the time.