President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met for a private lunch one week after her loss to President-elect Donald Trump and Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy was quick to ask about the “awkwardness” of the meeting during the White House press briefing.
“How awkward was that?” Doocy asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre seemed taken aback by the question and responded, “I don’t even understand. Why would it be awkward? They have regular lunches, they meet and talk regularly. Why would you characterize it as awkward?”
Doocy continued to press the issue, arguing that Biden had dropped out of the race to allow Harris to be the nominee and had been kept at “arms length” by her campaign, only to see her lose to Trump. Jean-Pierre remained composed, stating that the pair regularly communicates and even attended a Veterans Day memorial together the day before.
“There’s no weirdness about the way things have unfolded?” Doocy pressed further.
Jean-Pierre responded firmly, “They had lunch today, they’ve had lunch many times. They communicate with each other regularly and had an opportunity to discuss the last 70 days of this administration and how important it is to get things done for the American people. That’s their focus.”
Despite Biden announcing his resignation from the race and endorsing Harris in July, Trump was able to secure 312 electoral votes and sweep all seven battleground states, defeating Harris and becoming the first Republican nominee to win the popular vote in 20 years. This stunning victory has left many questioning the effectiveness of Harris’ campaign and her ability to connect with the American people.
The media has largely avoided addressing this issue, with Harris only participating in friendly interviews until October when she participated in a media blitz. The lack of transparency and genuine communication from Harris has certainly raised questions about her leadership abilities.