In a wild incident that occurred live during a press conference in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, President Joe Biden appeared to not only “hush” Vice President and 2024 Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, but might have also tossed a subtle dig at her. The incident, very funnily, was captured live on air.
The incident occurred during an event that was meant to address the federal government’s response to the two hurricanes that have torn into the southeast, Hurricanes Milton and Helene. The event featured not just President Biden and VP Harris, but also Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
During the event, President Biden spoke. Then, as he started to wrap up his remarks, President Biden turned his attention to the Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm. She indicated that VP Harris would be speaking, to which President Biden responded by saying, “I know, I’m going to go to the vice president. The she—she’s my boss.”
Then, just shortly afterward, the president was interrupted again, this time by VP Harris. He wasn’t having it. Instead, he, after she interrupted him, shushed her and indicated he wanted to keep speaking, saying, “Hang on madame Vice President.” Then, getting in what might have been a dig, as she’s not the president and the polls aren’t looking good, “So with that, I’ll yield to the President… I mean, the Vice President.”
That comment came when President Biden said, stumbling over his words, “We’re going to — we’re going to be going to the Congress. We’re going to need a lot of help, going to need a lot more money as we — as we identify specifically how much is needed. So, I’m just telling everybody now. I don’t want to hear the — this is going to be the end of it. So — and so, with that, I’ll le- — I’ll yield to the president — I mean, the vice president.” People laughed after that remark.
Watch the incident here:
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After President Biden turned the floor over to her, Vice President Harris said, in part, “In the wake of Hurricane Milton, we have, of course, witnessed widespread devastation. Homes and neighborhoods have been severely damaged. Millions of people are without power and thousands without clean water.”
She continued, “To the people of Florida, and — you must know — and to the — all of those in the region, our nation is with you. We see your incredible strength and resilience, and we are working around the clock to keep you safe. We continue to coordinate resources with local and state authorities, including food, water, medical supplies, and generators, and we will continue to work with the teams on the ground to restore water and power as quickly as possible.”
She added, “In the coming days and weeks, President Biden and I will make sure that the communities that are there on the ground and have been affected will have the resources they need not only to respond to the storm but also to recover. And we will continue to keep communities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and across the Southeast — ensured that they will recover from Hurricane Helene.”