Tensions are reportedly escalating between the Biden White House and Vice President Kamala Harris's political team, as reported by Axios on Sunday.
Fox News reported that the article discusses the strained dynamics and communication challenges that have emerged within the Biden administration and Harris's campaign team.
Misalignments and personal frictions, according to sources, are provoking increasing difficulties.
The strain between the two teams seems to stem largely from differing approaches to campaign coordination.
Political correspondent Alex Thompson pointed out that several senior aides, previously integral to President Biden's campaign, are still grappling with their new roles as supporters of Harris's team. This adjustment comes after Biden's unexpected exit from the re-election race.
One of the key issues reported was a lack of effective communication between the White House aides and Harris’s team, particularly regarding the alignment of Biden's schedule and messaging with the campaign needs of the Vice President.
An incident underscoring these tensions was President Biden’s unplanned press conference that took place on a Friday, coinciding with Vice President Harris's appearance at an event in Michigan. Such uncoordinated occurrences are causing confusion and perceived slights between the teams.
In a separate incident, President Biden praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for hurricane recovery initiatives, while being seemingly unaware of Harris’s recent critiques of DeSantis. This further illustrated the challenges in ensuring coordinated and aligned public communications.
A feeling of hesitance exists among some in Biden's circle, where aides worry about being perceived as disloyal should they choose to assist the Harris campaign. This is not aiding the already complicated transition and comingling of the two distinct groups.
Moreover, there are evident awkward tensions between veteran Biden campaigners and newcomers who are allied more closely with Harris, which has led to disagreements.
A significant point of contention involves whether Biden's principal advocates will maintain their positions following Harris's nomination.
Despite these challenges, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates confirmed President Biden's unwavering support for Harris.
Bates emphasized, "President Biden endorsed Vice President Harris immediately after leaving the race," reinforcing a unified front and rejecting divisive strategies.
In response to these reports, Bates also mentioned that modifications have been put into place to ensure Harris's team receives adequate support.
He noted, “We have made significant changes to guarantee the Vice President’s team has all of the support and resources that they need,” which reflects efforts to mend relationships and improve the transition process.
Amid this backdrop, Fox News reported feelings of frustration within Biden's team regarding some of Harris's more aggressive political maneuvers. One contentious issue involved her critique of DeSantis, which some Biden aides deemed unnecessary.
According to Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich, Biden’s team believes that Harris’s approach at times "puts Biden in difficult situations."
Nonetheless, it's believed that Biden continues to provide Harris with several leadership roles, although some aides allegedly feel these have not been leveraged as effectively as possible.
The reported tensions present a picture of a delicate balancing act between maintaining a united front in public while dealing with emerging internal frictions privately.
Sources close to the Harris team suggest the stress and "internal dynamics," as a Harris ally described, are complicating efforts to present a cohesive strategy moving forward.