Harris calls her relationship with Biden 'complicated', claims he was fit to serve for 4 more years

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris surprised Jon Stewart during a new episode of 'The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart' when she insisted that former President Joe Biden was “fully competent” to serve another four years in office.

Appearing on the Thursday, October 30, episode to promote her new book '107 Days', Harris reflected on her “complicated” relationship with Biden and her approach during the 2024 campaign.

Kamala Harris says Biden was 'fully competent to serve'

Stewart asked whether Harris’s “loyalty” to Biden prevented her from drawing clearer contrasts with his policies.

Harris admitted she had been reluctant to add to the criticism already surrounding the former president.

“I care about him deeply and I did not want to pile on with all the criticism that he was facing. I didn’t think it was necessary,” she said, acknowledging that she may have misjudged the public mood.

Stewart pressed Harris to clarify whether her remarks referred to Biden’s political decisions or his personal fitness for office. Harris didn’t hesitate.

“I believe he was fully competent to serve,” she said.

 A seemingly visibly surprised Stewart asked, “Do you really?”

“I do,” Harris replied firmly. “That surprises me, actually,” Stewart responded.

Harris explains that a candidate's role differs from serving as president

Harris elaborated that there is a “distinction” between being a candidate and serving as president, emphasizing the different physical and emotional demands of each.

“Being a candidate for President of the United States is about being in a marathon at a sprinter’s pace, having tomatoes thrown at you every step you take,” she said.

Stewart countered that many Americans viewed the presidency itself as “a marathon run at a sprint,” arguing that questions about stamina applied equally to governing.

Harris conceded that being a sitting president while campaigning presented “a lot” of challenges, adding that Biden faced both with resilience.

Harris also touched on her personal relationship with Biden, describing it as “complicated” during the 2024 election but amicable now.

“We still speak,” she said, adding that despite policy differences, they remain on good terms.

Harris said that she may run in 2028 for the White House

Speaking to the BBC’s 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg' on October 25, in her first UK interview, Harris said that she could be president one day and expressed confidence that America would soon see a woman in the Oval Office.

Kamala Harris said in the interview that she hasn’t made a formal decision about running in 2028 yet, but emphasized that she still sees a role for herself in public life.

“I am not done,” she said. “I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it's in my bones.”

Her new book, '107 Days', details the brief but turbulent campaign she ran after former President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race amid questions about his health. It also details her subsequent loss to Donald Trump.