In an interview with CNN on Thursday, U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris shared how she learned that President Joe Biden had decided not to run for a second term. Harris recounted that she was spending time with her family when she received the news.
“My family was staying with us. And — including my baby nieces. And we had just had pancakes and, you know, ‘Auntie, can I have more bacon?’ ‘Yes, I’ll make you more bacon.’ And then we were gonna sit — we were sitting down to — to do a puzzle. (LAUGH) And the phone rang. And it was Joe Biden. And — and he told me what he had decided to do. And I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ And — and that’s how I learned about it,” Harris recalled.
When asked about whether Biden endorsed her, Harris confirmed that he had. “And what about the endorsement? Did you ask for it?” CNN’s Dana Bash questioned. Harris responded, saying that Biden “was very clear that he was gonna support” her.
Reflecting on Biden’s legacy, Harris praised his presidency, stating, “Well, my first thought was not about me to be honest with you. My first thought was about him to be honest. I think history is gonna show a number of things about Joe Biden’s presidency. I think history is gonna show that in so many ways it was transformative, be it on what we have accomplished around finally investing in America’s infrastructure, investing in new economics, in new industries, what we have done to bring our allies back together, and have confidence in who we are as America, and grow that alliance, what we have done to stand true to our principles including the — the — one of the most important international rules and norms, which is the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Harris went on to highlight Biden’s leadership and selflessness, saying, “And I think history is gonna show not only has Joe Biden led an administration that has achieved those extraordinary successes, but the character of the man is one that he has been in his life and career, including as a president, quite selfless and puts the American people first.”
This marked Harris’ first major television interview since being named the Democrats’ presidential nominee. The interview took place during her bus tour through the critical Sun Belt state, where she was accompanied by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, ahead of the upcoming November U.S. presidential election.