Jamal Simmons, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, has proposed an unexpected idea: that President Joe Biden should step down in the next few months, allowing Harris to assume the presidency before Donald Trump’s inauguration. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Simmons praised Biden’s achievements but hinted that his “final promise” could be to pass the torch to Harris.
“A Transitional Figure”
Simmons, who worked with Harris from January 2022 to January 2023, commended Biden as a “phenomenal president” but argued that he could solidify his legacy by positioning Harris as the nation’s next leader. “He could resign the presidency in the next 30 days, make Kamala Harris the president of the United States,” Simmons remarked, adding that it would spare Harris from overseeing the January 6 transition after her own defeat.
Panel Reactions and Social Media Buzz
The bold suggestion drew a mix of surprise and laughter from the CNN panel, with conservative analyst Scott Jennings joking, “Jamal’s out here writing the next season of House of Cards.” Simmons had earlier shared similar sentiments on social media, writing that Biden stepping down would “make it easier for the next woman to run.”
“Disrupting Trump’s Paraphernalia”
Simmons even joked that Harris’s elevation to president would “disrupt all of Trump’s paraphernalia,” as much of his campaign merchandise prominently displays “47,” a nod to him becoming the 47th president.
Harris’s Journey with Biden
Chosen as Biden’s running mate in 2020, Harris became the first Black and Asian American female vice president. Despite their sometimes rocky campaign history, the two ultimately united to defeat Trump in 2020. Biden announced in July that he wouldn’t seek re-election, and Harris became the Democratic nominee for the presidency, though she ultimately fell short against Trump.
Conceding the Election
After the electoral results rolled in, Harris conceded to Trump with a call urging a peaceful transfer of power. Trump claimed 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, also leading the popular vote by nearly 3.75 million—a margin that makes him the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.
A Historic Moment Falls Short
Harris delivered a heartfelt concession speech at Howard University, her alma mater, declaring she wouldn’t “concede the fight that fueled this campaign.” Her words marked the end of a historic run and, for now, the continuation of a shifting landscape in American politics.
