On Wednesday, Kamala Harris released the first excerpt of her upcoming book, “107 Days,” taking notable jabs at the Biden administration.
Set for publication at the end of September, the book reflects on her brief time in the presidential campaign. In the excerpt published in the Atlantic, Harris criticizes the Biden press team for not adequately highlighting her role as “Border Czar,” suggesting they hampered her success.
“They had a huge communications team. Daily briefings in the press room. Yet it was nearly impossible to find anything positive to say about my work or to counter the false accusations,” she writes.
Harris recalls her trip to the Elysee Palace, aimed at strengthening ties with France following a security agreement with Australia and the UK. She met with French President Emmanuel Macron and visited the Pasteur Institute, where her mother conducted significant research on mRNA related to breast cancer. During this visit, she unofficially spoke with scientists about her interest in adhering to “scientific methods.” She emphasizes adapting hypotheses based on results and not proceeding as if all answers were known beforehand.
She humorously notes how a faux pas she made was blown out of proportion by media outlets like Fox News and the New York Post, with claims that she was feigning a French accent. “It was ridiculous, but ironically, I felt good that the White House made my ‘gaffe’ a talking point, overshadowing the vital diplomatic work I accomplished,” Harris mentions.
Harris expresses frustration about learning that Biden’s staff were, in fact, fueling negative perceptions around her. “The president’s team seemed to exacerbate negative narratives about me,” she adds, referencing claims that she ran a chaotic office with high turnover.
According to reports, Harris experienced significant staff turnover, with around 91.5% leaving in her first three years. She pushes back on these narratives, stating that the Biden administration sometimes promoted misleading stories regarding her performance.
“Due to constant caution, routine matters became sensationalized and scrutinized,” she notes, pointing out that the administration tracked her actions very closely, and when inaccuracies arose, the inner circle seemed to let them slide. “It felt as though they intended for me to be undermined,” she writes.
Throughout her tenure, Harris often criticized the administration’s handling of the border crisis after being assigned to address immigration issues from Mexico and the Northern Triangle in early 2021. She mentions being labeled as the “border czar” without having the support to correct misconceptions about her role. “Despite securing billions in new investments from companies thanks to cooperation with key partners, I found myself managing issues that were largely irrelevant to both Democrats and Republicans alike,” she reflects.
Harris adds that public sentiment shifted as Biden’s approval ratings dropped, especially following the humanitarian fallout of the Hamas attacks on October 7. She detailed her commitment to Israel’s security, noting, “I sought greater access to aid,” and that her speech on the matter was vetted by the White House and National Security Council. “Yet, after it went viral, I could sense discomfort in the West Wing,” she admits.
The excerpt wraps up with a strong assertion: the Biden administration might not have genuinely wanted her to flourish. “Their view seemed to be zero-sum. If I shined, he dimmed. My progress was seen as a threat rather than a victory,” she concludes.
