In a recent appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich offered sharp commentary on the current dynamics within the Democratic Party as the 2024 presidential race heats up. Gingrich raised eyebrows by suggesting that President Joe Biden may be deliberately undermining Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, labeling it as “payback time” for past political tensions between the two leaders.
During his interview, Gingrich expressed his belief that the Biden administration is subtly distancing itself from Harris, creating obstacles for her campaign and diminishing her chances of succeeding Biden. “It seems like the White House is deliberately undercutting her,” Gingrich said, speculating that Biden and his inner circle may feel resentment toward Harris for her perceived lack of loyalty or competence. “It could be payback time.”
Gingrich’s remarks come at a critical time for both the Biden-Harris administration and the Democratic Party as they navigate a turbulent election season. Although Harris has yet to officially declare her candidacy, speculation has mounted over whether she will run for president in 2024, especially if Biden decides not to seek a second term. Gingrich’s theory suggests that Harris’s potential candidacy may already be facing internal challenges within her own party.
The former Speaker’s analysis also touches on long-standing rumors of tension between Biden and Harris. Since taking office, the two have maintained a publicly united front, but reports of discord behind the scenes have circulated. Some political observers have suggested that Harris, tasked with high-profile but politically fraught assignments like addressing immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, has struggled to gain her footing as a viable successor to Biden. Gingrich speculates that these struggles could be, in part, exacerbated by a lack of support from the president.
“Biden’s team is doing nothing to help her look good,” Gingrich continued. “In fact, they’ve given her some of the hardest issues—immigration, voting rights—things that are not going to win you a lot of political capital.”
In his critique, Gingrich also hinted that Biden’s team might be working behind the scenes to position another Democratic figure to step in as the party’s frontrunner in 2024. While no Democratic challenger to Harris has publicly emerged yet, the former Speaker’s remarks imply that the party may already be preparing for a scenario in which Harris is sidelined.
Beyond the internal Democratic Party issues, Gingrich expressed his concerns about the broader impact of such political maneuvers. “What the Democrats don’t realize is that this kind of internal fighting and undermining is going to cost them the election,” he said. “If they keep tearing each other down, they’ll hand the White House back to the Republicans on a silver platter.”
As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, the future of the Biden-Harris administration remains uncertain. Many within the Democratic Party are waiting for President Biden to officially announce whether he will run for re-election or step aside, clearing the way for a new candidate to emerge. Meanwhile, Gingrich’s comments add fuel to the ongoing speculation about whether Vice President Harris will receive the full backing of her party, or if internal conflicts will derail her chances before the race even begins.
For now, Harris continues to fulfill her vice-presidential duties while maintaining a relatively low profile. As questions about her political future linger, Gingrich’s theory of a White House deliberately undermining her campaign suggests that the road to 2024 could be even more complicated for the vice president than previously thought.
