At Ethel Kennedy’s funeral in Washington, a lip-reading expert reportedly caught President Joe Biden telling former President Barack Obama that “she’s not as strong as me,” sparking speculation that Biden may have been referring to Vice President Kamala Harris. The conversation, which was picked up by a forensic lip reader and reported by the New York Post, has stirred debate about Harris’ role and performance heading into the 2024 election.
The Post reported that the exchange between Biden and Obama occurred off-mic, with Biden expressing doubts about someone’s strength, presumed to be Harris. The analysis, conducted by Jeremy Freeman, a well-regarded forensic lip reader who has worked with journalists and law enforcement for over 16 years, suggested that Biden was talking about Harris’ viability as a candidate.
“She’s not as strong as me,” Biden reportedly told Obama, to which the former president allegedly replied, “I know… that’s true.” Obama then added, “We have time,” seemingly referring to the upcoming election cycle. Biden responded, “Yeah, we’ll get it in time,” indicating a sense of urgency but also optimism about addressing whatever issues were being discussed.
Though Harris was not directly named in the transcription, the context and timing of the conversation led many to believe Biden was talking about his Vice President, particularly given recent concerns about her political strength. While some Democrats saw the conversation as a candid discussion about the election, others questioned the accuracy of the lip reader’s interpretation.
A Democratic source told the Post, “From the outset, there has been widespread concern that Harris was not a strong alternative to Biden, who clearly was a sinking ship. So much so that multiple House members floated the idea of an open convention or removing Harris from the ticket along with Biden.” The source added that Democrats are “now stuck with a less likable sinking ship,” reflecting broader concerns within the party about Harris’ potential to step in if Biden were to bow out.
On the other hand, Biden’s spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the report, saying, “A ‘lip reading expert’? Did your usual right-wing soothsayer have their out-of-office up? Only President Biden and President Obama know what they discussed, but this certainly wasn’t it.” Bates was not the only one to refute the lip reader’s conclusions. Former Biden staffers now working for Harris also pushed back against the claims, with one joking that the Post needed “a new lip reader,” and another insisting that “it is not even like [Biden] to say that” about Harris.
While some remain skeptical about the accuracy of the lip-reading analysis, others within the Democratic Party seem more concerned about the broader implications of the conversation. One person close to Obama did not outright deny the exchange but emphasized, “Only President Obama and President Biden know what they discussed yesterday. Any assertion otherwise is ridiculous.”
The relationship between Biden and Harris has been under scrutiny in recent months, with reports of friction between their respective teams. Tensions have reportedly grown since Biden signaled he might not run for a second term. As the Democratic Party faces questions about its leadership and the 2024 election looms closer, any perceived lack of confidence in Harris could further complicate the party’s path forward.
The New York Post’s report on the funeral conversation has reignited discussions about Harris’ role in the administration and her political future. If the lip reader’s interpretation is accurate, it could suggest that Biden himself is harboring doubts about his Vice President, even as he continues to publicly support her. Whether or not this speculation holds weight, it underscores the mounting pressure on both Biden and Harris as they navigate a politically charged and high-stakes election cycle.
