Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden appeared to overlook Kamala Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, during the 47th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday night.
The apparent snub, caught on camera, quickly went viral on social media.
As the Bidens entered the event to a standing ovation, video footage shows the couple failing to greet or even acknowledge Harris, who was standing nearby applauding enthusiastically.
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The vice president and Emhoff remained at their designated spot, visibly smiling, as the Bidens avoided eye contact.
The moment occurred during the prestigious awards ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., which honors artists and performers for their contributions to American culture.
This year’s honorees included members of the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.
The interaction—or lack thereof—immediately drew attention online. The popular X account “End Wokeness” shared the clip, writing, “Jill and Joe Biden are refusing to even look at Kamala Harris tonight.” The post garnered over 780,000 views by early Monday, sparking a wave of commentary.
Jill and Joe Biden are refusing to even look at Kamala Harris tonight pic.twitter.com/qL6jftoLsu
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 9, 2024
Critics and social media users were quick to speculate on the reasons behind the tension. Some joked that the Bidens may have “voted for President Trump,” referencing Trump’s decisive victory over the Democratic ticket in the 2024 presidential election last month.
Others suggested deeper rifts within the Democratic Party following the contentious election loss.
One commentator wrote, “They never even liked or had a shred of respect for each other from the jump”
They never even liked or had a shred of respect for each other from the jump
— Kevin The Essential Fat Kid (@KevinTheFatKid) December 9, 2024
Another added, “Can you blame them? Best case scenario, she convinced him she would win. Worst case, they ousted him so she could run. Either way, they probably feel robbed.”
Can you blame them. Best case scenario she convinced him she would win, worst case the ousted him so she could run. Either way they probably feel robbed.
— broseph (@brosephblake) December 9, 2024
Despite the awkward exchange, the Kennedy Center Honors proceeded as planned.
Hosted by actress and rapper Queen Latifah, the ceremony celebrated the lifetime achievements of notable figures in the arts.
Alongside the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, and Coppola, several other artists were recognized for their contributions to U.S. culture.
President Biden’s attendance at the Kennedy Center Honors marked one of his final public appearances as the outgoing president.
Kamala Harris, who had faced significant scrutiny during the campaign, has remained a visible presence in recent weeks despite the Democrats’ electoral defeat.
The moment at the Kennedy Center Honors comes amid growing speculation about divisions within the Democratic Party following their loss in the 2024 election.
President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide victory highlighted fractures in Democratic leadership, and Sunday’s apparent tension between Biden and Harris only fueled further questions about the party’s internal dynamics.
As video clips of the exchange continue to circulate online, the Bidens and Harris have yet to comment on the incident.
With only weeks remaining before the inauguration of Trump’s second term, the Democratic Party faces the challenge of addressing internal discord while navigating the transition.
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