Aides to then-Vice President Kamala Harris were reportedly so concerned about her ability to handle social gatherings that they organized a “mock soiree” in advance of a small Washington, D.C., dinner party in the spring of 2022, according to a new book chronicling internal struggles within the Biden administration.
In Original Sin, authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper describe how Harris’ team even went so far as to keep the event alcohol-free to assess whether she could “practice with a glass or two” under more realistic conditions.
The book recounts Harris’ attendance at a “salon-style dinner” hosted by media executive David Bradley, but notes no publicly known incidents occurred during that evening. Nevertheless, the authors detail tensions between Harris and Biden loyalists, calling her a “regular headache” for the administration.
“She often shied away from politically tough assignments when Biden had accepted such assignments as vice president,” they write. “She even turned down seemingly simple asks, such as headlining DC’s Gridiron Club dinner.”
Six months before the “mock soiree,” Harris faced ridicule over a widely mocked video promoting space exploration, which used child actors who had auditioned for their roles. Harris had been appointed to lead the National Space Council in May 2021, a role described by the authors as “politically safe ground” — yet still “difficult” for her to manage. Her aides reportedly confused “astrology and astronomy” in internal discussions.
“Many on the Biden team felt that Harris didn’t put in the work and was also just not a very nice person,” the book states. “Several quietly expressed buyer’s remorse: They should have picked [Michigan Gov. Gretchen] Whitmer” as Biden’s 2020 running mate.
While President Biden had pledged to select a woman as his vice president, the final choice reportedly came down to Harris and Whitmer. Biden allies, including future White House chief of staff Ron Klain, strongly supported Harris behind the scenes.
First Lady Jill Biden, however, was said to be troubled by Harris’ harsh criticism of her husband during a 2019 Democratic primary debate, particularly over the issue of busing.
Tensions reportedly continued after the election, with Harris staffers labeling members of Biden’s team as either helpful or part of what one aide called “the cabal of the unhelpful.” According to the book, figures such as Anthony Bernal, the First Lady’s office, and Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon were frequently placed in the latter category.
Ironically, O’Malley Dillon later served as chair of Harris’ campaign following President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race in late July.
