‘Recklessness’: Kamala Harris Criticizes Joe Biden’s Reelection Bid in New Memoir
On September 10, 2025, an excerpt from former Vice President Kamala Harris’s forthcoming book 107 Days—published in The Atlantic—has ignited widespread discussion, with Harris describing the Democratic Party’s deference to President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection in 2024 as “recklessness.” The memoir, set for release on September 23 by Simon & Schuster, chronicles the 107 days of her own presidential campaign following Biden’s withdrawal, offering a candid reflection on internal party dynamics, Biden’s age-related challenges, and the frustrations she faced in the White House.
Key Revelations from the Excerpt
Harris reflects on the mantra repeated among Democrats: “‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision,'” which she says was chanted “like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized.” She questions whether this loyalty was “grace” or “recklessness,” concluding in retrospect: “The stakes were simply too high. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.” Harris positions herself as being in the “worst position” to challenge Biden directly, noting it would have appeared “incredibly self-serving,” but admits the collective silence contributed to the party’s electoral downfall.
While critical of the process, Harris staunchly defends Biden’s competence, rejecting narratives of a “big conspiracy” to hide mental decline. “On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best,” she writes. “But at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.” She attributes Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance to exhaustion from back-to-back European trips and a West Coast fundraiser, not incapacity: “I don’t believe it was incapacity. If I believed that, I would have said so. As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country.”
Harris also airs grievances about Biden’s inner circle, accusing them of sidelining her and failing to counter right-wing attacks portraying her as a “DEI hire” or incompetent. “Getting anything positive said about my work or any defense against untrue attacks was almost impossible,” she laments. When she polled better than Biden, aides allegedly resented the “contrast” and undermined her success, which she argues was vital for proving her readiness to step in if needed: “My success was important for him. His team didn’t get it.” This lack of support, she claims, hurt Biden and the country alike.
Context of the 2024 Election and Book’s Timing
The excerpt revisits the turbulent summer of 2024, when Biden’s poor debate showing against Trump led to intense pressure, culminating in his July 21 withdrawal and endorsement of Harris. Her subsequent campaign ended in defeat to Trump on November 5, 2024, amid criticisms of her loyalty to Biden’s record dragging her down. Harris has announced a 15-city book tour, including stops in the UK and Canada, to promote 107 Days, framing it as a story of moral choices and party failures rather than personal score-settling.
This is Harris’s first major public break from her typically deferential stance toward Biden, though she maintains overall loyalty. The book arrives amid ongoing Democratic soul-searching post-2024, with Biden’s office yet to respond to the revelations.
Public and Media Reactions
The excerpt has dominated headlines, with X (formerly Twitter) posts amplifying the “recklessness” quote and sparking partisan divides. Conservative users celebrated it as evidence of Democratic infighting, with one post stating: “Kamala Harris Slams Joe Biden in New Book Calling Decision to Run Second Term ‘Recklessness’ and Whines About Lack of Support.” Liberal commentators noted the irony of Harris’s past defenses of Biden, while outlets like The New York Times highlighted her admission of a “mistake” in not challenging him sooner. Overall, reactions portray the book as a potential flashpoint in post-election narratives, with some viewing it as Harris positioning herself for future runs, despite her July 2025 statement ruling out a California gubernatorial bid.