It’s hard to see President Joe Biden’s latest move as anything but a deliberate power play against Vice President Kamala Harris. In a move that left pundits scratching their heads and had the Democratic Party scrambling to manage the optics, Biden walked into the White House press briefing room at the precise moment Harris was taking the stage at her rally in Michigan. The timing wasn’t just a coincidence—it was a statement.

CNN reported that they were ready to switch their live coverage to Harris’s rally when Biden walked out, effectively snatching the spotlight from his own running mate. The network didn’t mince words, noting that Biden was “clearly overshadowing” Harris, a sentiment that seems to underscore the tension brewing within the Democratic Party ever since Harris took the 2024 nomination from Biden after he was pressured to step aside following his disastrous debate performance.

This stunt comes as no surprise to those who’ve been paying attention to the simmering feud between Biden and Harris. Reports have surfaced suggesting that Biden feels sidelined and even betrayed by his own party as they shift their focus to Harris, the new face of the Democratic campaign. It’s no secret that Biden wasn’t thrilled when Harris tried to distance herself from him during her debate with Donald Trump, saying she is “clearly … not Joe Biden.” That remark must have stung, considering how closely tied she’s been to his administration’s policies and, let’s be honest, failures.

CNN says they were just about to go live to Kamala’s speech in Detroit when Biden appeared at the press briefing — “clearly overshadowing her.”

“Is the left hand not talking to the right hand?”

😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/Elr6KPUS9t

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 4, 2024

During the impromptu press briefing, Biden couldn’t resist pointing out just how integral Harris has been to his administration. “She’s aware of where — we all — we’re singing from the same song sheet,” Biden said, almost as if to lock Harris into the same cage with him politically. By stating that Harris “helped pass all the laws that are being employed now” and that her staff is “interlocked” with his, Biden effectively made sure that if his legacy goes down, Harris is going down with it.

This kind of maneuvering speaks volumes about Biden’s frustration with the Democratic Party’s pivot toward Harris. He’s making it clear that no matter how hard she tries to separate her brand from his controversial presidency, she’s inextricably linked to it. This might be his way of saying, “If you think you can just push me out and pretend I didn’t exist, think again.”

And let’s not forget that the timing here is crucial. Harris’s rally was supposed to be her moment to shine, her opportunity to rally support and show that she’s ready to lead. Instead, Biden effectively undercut her by pulling media attention away and forcing the narrative back on himself. The Trump campaign wasted no time pointing out the awkwardness of the situation, highlighting how Biden’s unscheduled appearance was a blatant move to steal the limelight.

Biden says he is in “constant contact” with Kamala Harris.

“We’re singing from the same song sheet. She helped pass all the laws [that resulted in record high inflation]. She’s a major player in everything we’ve done.”

Biden is Kamala. Kamala is Biden. pic.twitter.com/3OGmmPKYv2

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 4, 2024

For a president who’s supposedly riding off into the sunset, Biden’s actions signal anything but a graceful exit. Instead, they suggest a man who’s unwilling to let go of the reins quietly, a man who’s not ready to watch his legacy—or what’s left of it—be handed over to a vice president who’s been trying to tiptoe away from his shadow.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Democratic Party’s strategy of transitioning from Biden to Harris is fraught with complications. As much as the party would like to present a unified front, Biden’s off-the-cuff pressers and Harris’s attempts to distance herself from his administration are painting a picture of a fractured alliance. If Harris thought she could easily rebrand herself while riding on Biden’s coattails when it’s convenient, she might need to rethink that plan. Biden just made sure that any attempt to distance herself from the administration’s missteps will come off as disingenuous at best.