Kamala Harris Scraps LA Christmas Trip as Biden Health and Shutdown Loom

By Jesse Munn on
 December 20, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris makes an abrupt change to her year-end schedule amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden's health and ability to govern.

According to Daily Mail, Harris canceled her planned Christmas vacation trip to Los Angeles on Thursday, choosing instead to remain in Washington D.C. following revelations about Biden's declining health from a Wall Street Journal investigation.

The Vice President's office announced she would stay in the capital to "receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff." The sudden change in plans comes as Congress faces uncertainty over a government funding bill, with a potential shutdown looming if no agreement is reached by midnight Friday.

White House Grapples With Health Concerns

The Wall Street Journal's explosive report detailed how White House aides had been managing Biden's deteriorating condition throughout his presidency.

Staff members reportedly rescheduled meetings on his "bad days" and employed a voice coach to address his failing voice. The investigation also revealed instances where key politicians were unable to reach the president, notably during the controversial Afghanistan withdrawal.

President Biden, 82, returned to the White House on Thursday with his family after visiting Delaware. He was seen walking across the South Lawn with First Lady Jill Biden while holding his grandson Beau's hand. The previous day, the Biden family had attended a Mass commemorating the 52nd anniversary of the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of his first wife and daughter.

The president and First Lady are scheduled to visit patients and families at a children's hospital on Friday afternoon, maintaining their public appearances amid growing scrutiny of Biden's health.

Congressional Crisis Looms Large

Harris's decision to remain in Washington appears primarily motivated by the ongoing congressional funding crisis. As Vice President, she may be required to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate regarding the government funding resolution. Her presence in D.C. also carries political significance, as leaving for vacation while legislators work to prevent a shutdown could be viewed unfavorably.

The situation in Congress has become increasingly tense after former President Trump criticized a bipartisan 1,547-page spending bill. A subsequent Republican "Plan B" proposal, consisting of 116 pages, failed to pass Thursday night when 38 Republicans and all but two Democrats voted against it.

The White House has maintained its position supporting the initial bipartisan agreement. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement saying:

President Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, help communities recovering from disasters, and lower costs. Not this giveaway for billionaires that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour.

Looking Ahead At Political Implications

Vice President Harris's sudden schedule change reflects the complex dynamics at play in Washington. Her office has declined to comment on speculation linking the cancellation to Biden's health concerns, maintaining focus on the pressing legislative matters at hand.

The combination of Biden's health concerns and the looming government shutdown has created a challenging political environment. The Vice President's decision to remain in Washington underscores both the immediate need to address the funding crisis and the administration's sensitivity to public perception during this critical period.

Harris will continue to work in D.C. as Congress faces its midnight Friday deadline to pass funding legislation and prevent a government shutdown. Meanwhile, questions about President Biden's health and its impact on his administration's effectiveness continue to circulate in Washington, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging political landscape.

About Jesse Munn

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