President Joe Biden and his White House staff have essentially sidelined Vice President Kamala Harris for a myriad of reasons, most of which are related to her reportedly abrasive management style and personality, according to a new book.
“Harris has allegedly spent her time in office obsessing over her public image, frustrating aides with her demands, and struggling to find her footing in her high-profile assignments,” RadarOnline.com reported, citing the new tell-all book, “The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future,” written by Franklin Foer.
“White staff has allegedly been annoyed at Harris’ sensitivity to criticism, with claims that she is aware of any negative news story or complaints about her management style almost immediately,” the site noted further, again citing the new tome.
The book claims that the VP has “rabbit ears” when it comes to criticism of her at any level.
“She let the criticism guide her,” writes Foer, who added that she has frustrated Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, by “making life excessively difficult by imposing all sorts of constraints on herself.”
“Whenever there was a hint of criticism of her — either in the West Wing or in the press — she seemed instantly aware of it,” Foer wrote. “Rather than brushing it aside, she wanted to know who was speaking ill of her and what they were saying.”
In addition, Foer alleges that Harris has sought assignments out of the spotlight, which has frustrated the White House and Biden.
She has gone between failing to respond to high-profile assignments like being Biden’s “border czar,” to wanting to remain in the shadows.
RadarOnline.com noted further:
According to the book, Harris has demanded to be distanced from ‘women’s issues or anything to do with race’ while simultaneously wanting her office to be majority female with a black woman as Chief of Staff. This contradictory stance has allegedly rubbed some of the administration the wrong way.
Despite the alleged struggles, President Biden is widely expected to keep Harris on the ticket for his 2024 reelection bid. However, the book suggests that Biden’s lack of a platform for success has contributed to her difficulties in finding her footing as Vice President.
“This dissension has led her to be ‘guided by staff whom she didn’t know and didn’t especially trust,’ and has u-turned on her image and amount of responsibility she wants numerous times,” says a book excerpt.
The author also portrays Harris as a neglected figure within a Biden administration where Klain and other staffers are more vital to the day-to-day operation of the White House than she is.
Regarding Harris’ alleged sensitivity about her role in the White House, a report on Tuesday that cited several people close to the Biden administration said far-left California Gov. Gavin Newsom is getting under their skin with his constant attacks on GOP lawmakers, states, and presidential candidates in what they view as a clear attempt to position himself for a future presidential run.
According to NBC News, Newsom “is increasingly being viewed as a nuisance to some of President Joe Biden’s political advisers, according to four people familiar with the matter.”
“Though Biden’s camp no longer sees Newsom as a wannabe challenger — and some in Biden’s orbit praise him for acting as a top campaign surrogate — Newsom’s plan to debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on television carries more risk than potential reward, these people say,” the Sunday report continued. “That has caused consternation within Biden’s operation and among Vice President Kamala Harris’ allies.”
NBC News went on to report that “Harris allies take particular umbrage at what they see as Newsom’s attempt to position himself for the 2028 Democratic presidential primarily at her expense.”
“It’s disrespectful,” one of Harris’ outside advisers told the outlet. “Joe Biden is running with Kamala Harris. That’s the Democratic ticket.”