On January 9 in Washington D.C., the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter took place. The atmosphere was marked by a palpable tension, particularly between Vice President Kamala Harris and outgoing First Lady Jill Biden. Their interaction, or lack thereof, indicated strife within the Democratic administration as it nears its end.
During the service at the National Cathedral, Harris and Biden, who sat together in the front row, maintained limited contact. A body language expert noted that both women seemed to create as much distance as possible between each other, remaining silent and staring ahead while others engaged in conversation.
Biden briefly handed her pocketbook to Harris while settling into her seat, but beyond this short interaction, both women maintained a stoic demeanor. This behavior has not gone unnoticed, as White House aides have described the existing atmosphere as “depressing” and “draining” in the waning days of the administration.
Despite the reported tension, Harris’ spokesperson Kirsten Allen insisted that Harris and President Biden have developed a strong working relationship and friendship over the years. Allen further stated that this camaraderie extends to the first lady and the second gentleman.
The funeral also presented several other intriguing moments of political tension. Harris seemed to react uncomfortably when she noticed President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama in a friendly exchange behind her. Observers described her reaction as a sigh and eye-rolling.
The presence of five living U.S. presidents revealed various political dynamics. Notably, former President George W. Bush acknowledged Obama but ignored Trump. When Laura Bush started greeting those seated behind them, her husband followed suit. Nevertheless, former Second Lady Karen Pence seemed to avoid making eye contact with the Trumps.
According to a report from a previous event, President Biden was supposedly overheard whispering to Obama about Harris during Ethel Kennedy’s funeral service, saying “she… is not as strong as me,” to which Obama responded, “I know… that’s true… we have time.” This conversation was reportedly decoded by Jeremy Freeman, a London-based forensic lip reader.
The strained relationship between the Bidens and Harris appeared to persist even after Harris’ defeat on November 5. At the Kennedy Center Honors in December, both Joe and Jill Biden did not acknowledge Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff during a standing ovation.
The tension seemingly extends beyond public appearances. Sources familiar with the situation suggest that Jill Biden has grown increasingly frustrated with the Democratic party establishment, with some speculating she told her husband to “burn the whole thing down.”