OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Kamala Harris is apparently not able to get along with many people in the Joe Biden administration, other than the president himself.
And on Sunday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg attempted to squash the rumors that he is in a feud with the vice president.
“She and I are part of a team that is disciplined and doesn’t focus on what’s obsessing the commentators,” he said on the NBC show “Meet the Press.” “We’re too busy with a job to do.”
“There’s no room to get caught up in the parlor games and I’m proud to be part of the Biden-Harris team,” he said.
WATCH: Sec. Buttigieg says his relationship with VP Kamala Harris isn’t affected by reports of rivalry: “She and I are part of a team that is disciplined.”@SecretaryPete: “There’s no room to get caught up in the parlor games and I’m proud to be part of the Biden-Harris team.” pic.twitter.com/I8iyyclXCt
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 21, 2021
The Daily Mail reported:
Rumors and gossip have swirled of tensions rising with President Joe Biden and the vice president amid reports this month of growing frustration between their teams.
The reports have also suggested a sort of rivalry developing between Harris and Buttigieg as some claim her team feels the president defends the Transportation secretary more than he does the vice president.
Since the reports emerged, Harris and Biden have exhibited their partnership.
On Monday’s signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill they put on a show of force when walking out onto the South Lawn together and exchanging hugs.
As for Biden and Harris, even body language experts who spoke with The Daily Mail believe they can see the tension between the two.
“Harris’s smile is forced and contrived. There are no crow’s feet at the side of her face, which shows us whether or not the smile is genuine. In my opinion, this smile is just purely for press and perception purposes,” UK body language expert Darren Stanton said.
Announcer: “Please welcome Heather Kurtenbach”
Kamala Harris: “In a moment.” pic.twitter.com/oLo2R4NArY
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) November 15, 2021
'Kamala looks like she's at a party she doesn't want to be at': Vice President's … https://t.co/MNTBqs2YPs via @MailOnline
— Dolly Loretta Russo (@dolly19631966) November 16, 2021
Author and body language expert Judi James agreed, saying their gestures were an example of “political power jostling.”
“The pair look incredibly awkward walking locked together towards the press. There are no signs of reciprocal affection or empathy here to make the ritual look relaxed or natural,” James said.
James explained: “Biden has to angle his body to allow her to walk out ahead of him and he keeps his left arm up in a partial barrier as he does so. If there were some form of recognition from her or an ushering gesture from him this could look like old-fashioned manners, but there isn’t.”
Noting Harris’s forced smile, Stanton added: “This I call the typical cheese photograph it’s the kind of photograph that you pose for at a wedding or some other family event you don’t want to be at.”
“It’s quite an odd posture to stand there with your hands to the side like Biden is. Most people would adopt a gesture where they are holding their hands to the front but this just seems to be a very strange posture and not really that genuine. Biden is usually a very tactile man and he and Harris generally touch each other’s arms or shoulders [at moments like this], which is an example of a deep rapport. It seems as though Biden has almost been briefed not to do that,” Stanton said.
“His level of physical contact has been reduced which would seem to signify a split in their level of rapport and original deep connection. Eleven months in office and cracks beginning to show between their unity?” she added.
And on Friday the pair contradicted each other before Biden walked back his comments when both spoke about the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict.
“I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works and we have to abide by it,” the president said to reporters at the White House.
But Harris was not having it and appeared to contradict the president.
Today’s verdict speaks for itself. I've spent a majority of my career working to make our criminal justice system more equitable. It’s clear, there’s still a lot more work to do.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 20, 2021
“Today’s verdict speaks for itself. I’ve spent a majority of my career working to make our criminal justice system more equitable. It’s clear, there’s still a lot more work to do,” she said.
