Former Aide Suggests Biden Step Down to Make Harris the 47th President

Jamal Simmons, who once served as communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, made an unexpected suggestion on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

Simmons proposed that President Joe Biden could step down, making Kamala Harris president before the 2024 election.

During a discussion on what to watch in the final weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, other panelists focused on topics like Trump’s plans for his administration and ongoing international issues.

Simmons, however, offered a different idea: “Biden could resign the presidency in the next 30 days and make Kamala Harris the president of the United States.”

Simmons praised Biden’s work as president, saying he has kept many of his promises. He added that Biden could fulfill his final promise by being a “transitional figure,” passing the torch to Harris.

There’s no indication that Biden is considering this, but Simmons argued that it would prevent Harris from having to oversee the certification of her own loss if she did not win in the election. The vice president traditionally oversees this certification process as president of the Senate.

Host Dana Bash noted that this idea has circulated on the internet and is now making its way to mainstream media discussions. Recently, Pod Save America host Jon Lovett joked about the possibility, mentioning former President Jimmy Carter, who has been in hospice care but hopes to see a female president in his lifetime.

Simmons added that this would be an opportunity for Democrats to rethink their approach moving forward.

Panelist Scott Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush, responded lightheartedly, saying, “Jamal, I thought you were writing the new season of House of Cards.”

While the idea is unlikely to happen, Simmons suggested it would allow Biden to fulfill his promise to pass on leadership to the next generation and give Harris the historic title of the 47th president of the United States.