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Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday revealed for the first time what she was doing when President Joe Biden told her he was about to make a historic announcement that he would drop out of the 2024 race.
"My family was staying with us, including my baby nieces, and we had just had pancakes," Harris told CNN's Dana Bash during her first interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. "And you know, 'Auntie, can I have more bacon?' 'Yes, I'll make you more bacon.' And then we were sitting down to do a puzzle."
Harris, laughing at the memory, said the phone rang. It was Biden. He had decided to abruptly quit the 2024 race after enduring weeks of senior Democrats pressuring him to step aside. Biden would later make his decision public via a post on X, upending the presidential campaign in a way not seen in decades.
"He told me that what he had decided to do, I asked, 'Are you sure?'" Harris said. "And he said, "Yes,' and that's how I learned about it."
Bash asked if Harris asked Biden for his endorsement. She responded, "He was very clear he was gonna support me." Biden quickly issued a second statement within hours after announcing his decision to drop out. Before then, there was some speculation about whether Democrats would reopen the nomination fight just days before the party's national convention.
Harris, as she had previously, lauded Biden as a historic figure, pointing to their administration's work on infrastructure and strengthening US allies.
"I think history is going to 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," she said.
