Kamala tells Jon Stewart that Biden was 'fully competent' for second term

Kamala Harris claimed while she was on Jon Stewart's show that former President Joe Biden, who is now being treated for cancer after serving in the White House, was "fully competent" to serve a second term. Stewart appeared visibly shocked by the claim on his show. 

Harris appeared on an episode of "The Weekly Show" with Stewart, where she said that one regret she had during her presidential campaign was that she did not distinguish herself from Biden more while competing against Trump. Stewart clarified that he was not asking about "the competence conversation" about Biden, as many questioned his ability to serve another term after a terrible debate performance against Trump in the 2024 campaign, but rather differences in Biden and Harris' policies and agendas. 

 

“No, I’m not talking about competence,” Harris added. “I am not talking about competence at all. No, I believe he was fully competent to serve.”

Stewart, visibly taken aback by the claim, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you really?”

Harris insisted, "I do." 

Stewart replied back that the point from Harris was unexpected. "That surprises me, actually,” he said. Harris went on to argue that Biden could have served a second term, saying that there is a difference between running for president and being the president. 

“Being a candidate for president of the United States is about being in a marathon at a sprinter’s pace, having tomatoes thrown at you every step you take," she added. “And to be the seated president, the sitting president while doing that – it’s a lot. It’s a lot."

Stewart then pressed on Harris, asking if someone who is incapable of running a campaign should be the commander-in-chief of the US. “I think it’s a hard case to make for people that he didn’t have the stamina to run, but he had the stamina to govern because I think most people view the presidency as a marathon run at a sprint with tomatoes being thrown at you in terms of governance,” he argued.