The tension between Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden was on full display Monday during a Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery. The two sat side-by-side in a painfully awkward scene, making little effort to acknowledge each other. The frosty encounter was caught on camera as Harris arrived with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, but Jill Biden seemed intent on ignoring the Harris. Instead, the First Lady exchanged pleasantries with other attendees, leaving Harris to reach past her for a handshake before turning away.
The moment set the tone for the rest of the ceremony, as both women maintained a stoic demeanor despite the sunny, 72-degree weather in Washington, D.C. Jill Biden, sporting oversized sunglasses, kept her expression flat, while Harris managed a polite but strained smile for the cameras. The *Daily Mail* noted that despite the warm weather, the mood between the First Lady and the vice president was ice cold.
Watch Jill Biden evidently give Kamala the cold shoulder as she arrives at Arlington National Cemetery
Kamala shook everyone’s hand before swiftly racing past Jill as the cameras were rolling
They’re not taking the loss well.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 12, 2024
TENSION!!!
Kamala Harris and Jill Biden look EXTREMELY uncomfortable sitting next to each other during Veteran’s Day memorial service today.
Now why on Earth could that be?! pic.twitter.com/t1hoOB91BH
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) November 11, 2024
Observers believe the chilly dynamic stems from lingering animosity between the two women. Jill Biden has reportedly never forgiven Harris for her aggressive attacks against Joe Biden during the 2020 Democratic primary. Harris had specifically criticized Biden’s support for the 1994 crime bill, accusing him and former President Bill Clinton of contributing to mass incarceration that disproportionately affected Black Americans. The tension resurfaced during the 2024 election cycle, with reports suggesting that Jill Biden was irate over rumors that Harris had been maneuvering to push Biden out of the race.
Following Harris’s defeat last week, Democratic strategists and commentators have begun to question whether Biden’s decision to seek a second term was a misstep. Podcaster Charlamagne Tha God and media personality Joe Rogan have both criticized Biden for not stepping aside earlier, suggesting that a primary contest might have given the party a stronger candidate than Harris. It’s a sentiment that appears to have fueled the quiet hostility seen at Arlington.
As the ceremony continued, Jill Biden seemed far more comfortable engaging with Doug Emhoff, a longtime ally, while largely ignoring Harris. Even during the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, neither Biden nor Jill interacted with Harris. The silent pairs then walked to the amphitheater for the Biden’s address, with all parties dressed in somber black attire.
Despite their apparent personal rift, Jill Biden campaigned hard for Harris in key swing states, underscoring the stakes of the election. Earlier this year, the First Lady attempted to put on a united front, recalling her shared grief with Harris over losing their mothers to cancer. “As Kamala and I have gotten to know each other these past four years, we bonded over many things,” Jill Biden said at a campaign event, attempting to downplay any lingering bitterness.
But the Arlington appearance suggests the wounds have yet to heal. For now, the silent tension between Jill and Harris remains a telling sign of the fractures within the Democratic leadership.
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