This cannot happen.
Jamal Simmons, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, recently made waves on CNN when he suggested that President Joe Biden should step down and allow Harris to take over as the nation’s first female president. During an appearance on State of the Union, Simmons argued that Biden has already fulfilled many of his campaign promises and that resigning would be a way for him to complete one final act—helping Harris make history.
Simmons proposed that Biden could resign in the next 30 days, elevating Harris to the presidency. He emphasized that this move would allow her to avoid the politically tricky position of overseeing the fallout from the January 6th Capitol riots while positioning her as a transformative leader. “It would dominate the news, and it would be a moment for Democrats to change the way they operate,” Simmons said, calling it an opportunity for the party to embrace transparency and drama in a way that would resonate with voters.
The suggestion immediately caught the attention of CNN’s Dana Bash and other panelists, who expressed surprise at the proposal. Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator, joked that Simmons was “writing a season of House of Cards.” Despite the skepticism, Simmons doubled down, suggesting that Biden’s resignation would also disrupt the Republican narrative, particularly around former President Donald Trump, and help ease the way for future female candidates.
Simmons expanded on his idea in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling for Biden to fulfill his “final promise” by stepping aside and making Harris the first woman to hold the office. He argued that Democrats, who he believes have better policies than Republicans, need to embrace the “drama and excitement” that Americans respond to in politics. His comments echo the growing frustration within some corners of the Democratic Party with Biden’s leadership and the party’s chances in the upcoming election.
While this idea may seem radical, it underscores the deep political divisions and the kind of unconventional thinking emerging on both sides of the aisle. For Republicans, the notion of Biden stepping down to give Harris a shot at the presidency could be seen as yet another example of the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the current administration—a stark contrast to the stability and clarity that many conservatives seek.