Former President Joe Biden Denies Advising Kamala Harris Against Policy Differentiation Amid 'The View' Controversy

In a televised interview on ABC's 'The View,' former President Joe Biden denied advising Kamala Harris to avoid policy differentiation during her 2024 presidential campaign. He refuted claims of demanding loyalty at the expense of her independence. Biden addressed criticism of Harris' October 2024 interview on 'The View,' where her statement of not changing anything about the Biden administration was used against her. Despite a book alleging Biden urged Harris to maintain a united front, he emphasized her involvement in major decisions and her freedom to chart her own course.

Biden Pushes Back on “No Daylight” Allegation

During the interview, co-host Sunny Hostin directly asked Biden whether he had told Harris there should be “no daylight” between them during her campaign. The phrase had become a focal point in post-election analysis, with critics arguing that Harris’ inability to distinguish herself from Biden’s presidency contributed to her loss against Donald Trump.

Biden denied the allegation unequivocally. “I did not advise her to say that,” he said, referring to Harris’ now-infamous comment on "The View" in October 2024. “She has to be her own person, and she was.” He added that while he understood the role of a vice president, having served in that position himself, he never instructed Harris to suppress her own political identity.

The October 2024 Interview and Its Fallout

The controversy stems from Harris’ appearance on "The View" during her campaign, where she was asked if there was anything she would have done differently from Biden during their administration. “There is not a thing that comes to mind,” Harris responded. The remark was quickly seized upon by Republican opponents and featured prominently in attack ads, portraying her as lacking independence and vision.

Hostin, who had posed the original question to Harris, noted during Biden’s recent appearance that the vice president’s answer was “weaponized against her.” Biden acknowledged the political damage the moment caused but defended Harris’ intent. “I think she was talking about the successes we had, not that she wouldn’t change anything at all,” he said. “That was used in a way that is contrary to what she meant.”

Contradictory Reports and Insider Accounts

Despite Biden’s public denial, a book by journalists Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen claimed that Biden had privately urged Harris to maintain a united front. According to the book, Biden “would say publicly that Harris should do what she must to win. But privately, including in conversations with her, he repeated an admonition: let there be no daylight between us.”

The authors also described a phone call Biden made to Harris on the day of a major debate, in which he reportedly reminded her of the loyalty he expected. “No longer able to defend his own record, he expected Harris to protect his legacy,” they wrote. “To the extent that she wanted to forge her own path, Biden had no interest in giving her room to do so.”

Biden did not directly address the book’s claims during his interview but emphasized that Harris was involved in every major decision during their administration and had the freedom to chart her own course.

Biden Reflects on Harris’ Campaign and Loss

Biden, who dropped out of the 2024 race in July and endorsed Harris, said he was not surprised by her eventual loss to Trump. He attributed the outcome to deep-seated societal issues. “I wasn’t surprised because they went the sexist route,” he said, referring to the Trump campaign’s strategy. “I’ve never seen quite a successful and consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman could lead the country and a woman of mixed race.”

He reiterated that Harris was “qualified to be president of the United States of America” and said her campaign underestimated the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on voter sentiment.

Hostin echoed Biden’s sentiments, stating that racism and misogyny played a significant role in Harris’ defeat. She cited polling data that showed a clear racial divide in voter preferences during the 2024 election.

Biden and Harris’ Working Relationship

Throughout the interview, Biden spoke warmly of Harris, describing their working relationship as one of mutual respect and spirited debate. “We argued like hell,” he said, “but she was her own person.” He emphasized that Harris was deeply involved in shaping the administration’s policies and that their disagreements were part of a healthy decision-making process.

Despite stepping back from national politics, Biden said he remains in regular contact with Harris and has offered guidance on her political future. “She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do,” he said, referring to speculation about her next steps. “I hope she stays fully engaged.”

References

• Joe Biden Reveals On ‘The View’ That He And Kamala Harris Used To “Argue Like Hell”
• Biden denies telling Harris there could be 'no daylight' between them, addresses former VP's 'View' moment
• Biden denies telling Harris there could be 'no daylight' between them, addresses former VP's 'View' moment
• Joe Biden Sticks the Knife Into Kamala Harris Over Election Loss on ‘The View’
• Joe Biden blames Kamala Harris’ loss on sexism and racism and rejects concerns about his age
• Joe Biden tells “The View ”he 'wasn't surprised' Kamala Harris lost presidential election to Donald Trump
• Joe Biden reveals on 'The View' that he and Kamala Harris used to "argue like hell"