Democratic Party insiders are abuzz after Joe Biden was seen donning a Trump 2024 campaign hat at a public event, an incident that reportedly left Kamala Harris “furious”—and potentially fractured their public partnership. The viral moment has triggered heated debate within Democratic circles and across the political spectrum.

According to Fox News, a new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveals that Harris saw Biden’s gesture as “completely unhelpful” to the party’s prospects, especially as the video gained traction on social media. The authors detail internal frustrations and the fallout that ensued after the incident.

The book, titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” outlines how the September 2024 event in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, became a flashpoint for ongoing tension between Biden and Harris. The story also sheds light on deeper issues within the Democratic campaign, including media strategy missteps and sharp words exchanged about Trump supporters.

Biden’s gesture sparks controversy

On September 11, 2024, President Biden visited the Shanksville Fire Station in Pennsylvania to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. During the visit, Biden took a red “Trump 2024” hat from an attendee and placed it on top of his own hat—a gesture the White House described as friendly and meant to display unity. The crowd reportedly cheered, but the video quickly spread online and ignited fierce reactions.

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book recounts Harris’s immediate response. She reportedly asked her team, “What is he doing?” and described the action as “completely unhelpful. And so unnecessary.” The authors note this was the last time Harris would participate in a public event with Biden before the election.

The viral nature of the video put additional strain on an already tense campaign season. The White House insisted the gesture was a moment of bipartisanship, but critics and supporters alike interpreted it through the lens of a deeply polarized electorate.

Internal divisions and campaign fallout

Following the incident, the book describes how Harris worked to distance herself from the controversy. She publicly stated her opposition to criticizing voters based on their political choices, emphasizing that her work has always focused on representing all Americans.

“I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris said. “You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not.”

As detailed in the book, the fallout from the hat incident was not isolated. Biden’s campaign reportedly struggled with a series of missteps, including several 2024 campaign videos that had to be scrapped due to the president’s on-camera difficulties.

Efforts to present Biden as energetic and engaged often ran into trouble, with some blaming production issues and others pointing to Biden’s own challenges.

Biden’s comments fuel further debate

The controversy didn’t end with the hat. During a campaign call for Harris, Biden delivered harsh criticism of Donald Trump and his supporters, further inflaming tensions within the party and with voters.

He accused Trump of lacking character and disrespecting the Latino community, referencing inflammatory remarks made at a Trump rally.

Biden’s comments included:

Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community. Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.

Media reaction and campaign challenges

Political commentators and media figures seized on the viral hat video, with some calling it a major blunder for the Biden campaign. Outlets across the spectrum debated whether the gesture was a sign of goodwill or a tone-deaf miscalculation at a crucial time in the election cycle.

The book also describes attempts by Biden’s campaign to stage town hall-style videos in controlled environments. Despite efforts to script and manage these appearances, Biden reportedly struggled to answer pre-selected questions, leading his team to scrap the footage. Some staff blamed the lighting and setting, while others pointed directly to the president’s performance.