The scene at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day looked tense as First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris shared a frosty silence. Sitting side-by-side, the First Lady, hidden behind dark sunglasses, appeared distant, staring straight ahead as Harris leaned toward her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
This apparent cold shoulder set social media buzzing, reigniting longstanding rumors about a strained relationship between the two women—rumors dating back to the 2020 Democratic primary debates when Harris criticized Joe Biden’s record on racial issues.
The political fallout from the recent election, where Harris lost to Donald Trump in a decisive defeat, has only fueled tension between the camps.
Some Biden allies reportedly blame Harris’s team for the Democrats’ poor showing, while Harris’s supporters argue that her campaign was saddled with defending Biden’s legacy amid challenging circumstances. Jill Biden, though she did campaign for Harris after President Biden stepped down, has been described by some sources as having been lukewarm in her support, seeing Harris’s run as a necessity more than a passion project.
Monday’s silent, distant interaction only adds to the perception of a chill between the First Lady and the Vice President, highlighting potential fractures within the Democratic Party as it looks to regroup post-election.