If you’re going to disrespect President Joe Biden in front of Vice President Kamala Harris, prepare to face some consequences.
Host and entertainer Charlamagne Tha God learned that the hard way on Friday when an interview with Harris went off the rails after he asked a less-than-diplomatic question. “I want to know who’s the real president of this country, Joe Biden or Joe Manchin,” he asked, referring to the struggles the Democratic Party has had with getting Manchin, West Virginia’s Democratic Senator, on board with the president’s legislative priorities.
After a brief communications breakdown where it seemed as though Harris’s press team tried to end the interview because it ran long, Charlamagne asked his question again. The vice president immediately admonished him in response.
“Come on Charlamagne,” she said with all the energy of a pre-school teacher telling her students not to eat paste for the tenth time. As the host tried to defend his question, Harris continued.
“Come on. It’s Joe Biden.” Charlamagne tried again to get a word in, and Harris wasn’t having it. “No no no no no. No. No. No. It’s Joe Biden. And don’t start talking like a Republican about asking whether or not he’s president.”
Her response only grew more forceful as Charlamagne continued to push, asking if Manchin is “a problem” for the administration. Ignoring the follow-up, Harris held up her hand and continued her correction: “It’s Joe Biden. And I’m vice president and my name is Kamala Harris.” She continued from there to hail the Biden administration’s successes and policy positions, not even trying to mask the edge in her voice.
The response left Charlamagne impressed. “I just want you to know Madam Vice President: That Kamala Harris? That’s the one I like. That’s the one that was putting the pressure on people in Senate hearings. That’s the one I’d like to see more often out here in the streets.”
The fireworks start at around 18:40 in the video above, and it’s worth listening to Harris’s full response. Even if you know the current administration’s successes and policies inside and out, seeing Harris unload on a thoughtless question that was likely fueled in large part by a GOP talking point offers us all a sharp, important reminder of why she has the job that she does.
