Former Aide Floats Bold Idea for Kamala Harris to Take Over as President

Jamal Simmons, who once served as communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, shared an unconventional view on her chances of becoming president in 2024. Simmons suggested that President Joe Biden could potentially resign within the next 30 days, paving the way for Harris to assume the presidency, which would make her the 47th President of the United States.

During a panel discussion on CNN’s “State of the Union,” hosted by Dana Bash, Simmons stated, “Joe Biden’s been a phenomenal president. He’s fulfilled so many of the promises he made. But there’s one promise left—being a transitional figure.” Simmons’ unexpected suggestion was a sharp pivot from the other panelists’ predictions, which mostly focused on global events and the upcoming administration under former President Donald Trump, who is gearing up for another run in 2024.

Though there’s no indication Biden is contemplating an early departure from office, Simmons argued that such a move could provide a powerful shift for the Democratic Party. According to Simmons, stepping down would allow Harris to avoid the potential fallout of overseeing her own defeat in the event the election does not favor the Democrats. This move, he speculated, would create a significant media impact and force Democrats to rethink their strategy and presence in the public eye.

Dana Bash responded to the idea by noting that it seemed to have “jumped from an internet meme to a Sunday morning show” level of discussion. And while Simmons’ suggestion is far from reality, his comments did not go unnoticed. Fellow panelist Scott Jennings humorously compared Simmons’ scenario to a script straight out of the political drama “House of Cards.”

The move would undeniably disrupt the political landscape, with Simmons joking that even Trump’s “47” merchandise—branding that Trump uses to signal his goal of becoming the 47th president—would require an immediate update.