Yesterday’s Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was meant to honor the nation’s service members, but one photo from the event painted a picture of deeper tensions within the Democratic Party. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared together publicly for the first time since Harris’s resounding loss to President-elect Donald Trump—a joint appearance that symbolized unity but betrayed the strain between the two.

The day’s proceedings were formal: a solemn wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Biden praised Harris’s campaign, calling it “inspiring” and commending her for “giving her whole heart and effort.” Yet, that public display of support seemed at odds with the visual cues and backstory surrounding the two. Biden’s praise sounded hollow to some observers, especially given the “bad blood” that reportedly lingers between Biden’s and Harris’s camps.

Jill Biden hates Kamala Harris with a passion. pic.twitter.com/xqmgkRgc7l

— Rach 🇺🇸 (@rachisawake) November 11, 2024

It’s no secret that Harris’s team felt blindsided by Biden’s rhetoric during the campaign. Biden’s erratic comments—ranging from labeling Trump supporters “garbage” to calling for Trump’s political ousting—were poorly timed, to say the least.

The “garbage” comment, in particular, set off a firestorm just as Harris was giving her final rally in D.C., aiming to rally her base and capture crucial media attention. Instead, Biden’s remarks stole the headlines, adding fuel to GOP mobilization and potentially costing Harris valuable momentum in the closing days of her campaign.

This Veterans Day appearance, therefore, wasn’t just an honor to the nation’s veterans; it was a strained show of unity after a brutal election loss and an awkward attempt to patch over the fractures within the Democratic Party.

The frostiness was palpable, especially between the First Lady and the Vice President. Jill Biden, who was instrumental in pushing her husband off the 2024 ticket, is rumored to harbor long-standing grievances about how Harris’s team managed her campaign. And the Vice President’s allies, for their part, have not held back, blaming Biden’s team for sabotaging their campaign and withholding key endorsements and support.

Biden and Harris make first public appearance together since election as stone-faced Jill looks on. https://t.co/B7utTjydcE pic.twitter.com/aZQiMm6Wwa

— New York Post (@nypost) November 11, 2024

Biden’s own actions throughout the campaign only complicated matters. In an unexpected move, he wore a “Make America Great Again” hat during a visit to Shanksville on the anniversary of 9/11, a gesture that baffled both parties and left Harris’s camp fuming. For Harris’s team, this was emblematic of Biden’s unpredictable and increasingly erratic behavior. There’s no doubt these unscripted moves hurt Harris’s standing with Democratic voters, but the First Lady’s reported grudge against Harris seems to have deepened with the election outcome.

This strained dynamic hints at a party still reeling from its own internal conflicts. Biden’s mental state, questioned often by insiders and opponents alike, has only compounded the problem. His cognitive slips during the campaign became a quiet issue, leading top Democratic donors and congressional leaders to push him out of the race in what some have labeled a “coup.” Jill Biden, watching her husband sidelined after years of service, reportedly harbors lasting resentment toward the Harris camp for what she views as a betrayal.