A new report highlighted alleged infighting and animosity within the Biden administration regarding the border, with particular animosity between former Domestic Policy Adviser Susan Rice and other officials.
Officials familiar with the matter alleged significant hostility between Rice and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Axios. Becerra was the target of especially sharp criticism, as he was on the receiving end of several expletive-laden denouncements.
According to several people familiar with the matter, Rice said Becerra was a “b****-a**” and privately called him an “idiot.”
The reason for the harsh words was the perception that Becerra was reluctant to find more space in child migrant centers, leading to a public relations disaster when images emerged of large numbers of migrant children being held in detention centers.
During a meeting with President Joe Biden, during which he vented his frustrations against Becerra, Rice allegedly slipped a note to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with the message “Don’t save him.”
Tension with Harris was also alleged, with several sources claiming deep bitterness as a result of the belief that Rice was snubbed of the vice presidential spot, partially due to opposition research from Harris’s team.
The infighting is part of a wider trend of dysfunction within the administration regarding the border outlined in the Axios report. The White House disputed the assertions within the report.
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“President Biden is proud that his team has worked well together as they work to resolve unprecedented challenges, and as congressional Republicans continue to choose politics over securing our border,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Biden for further comment.
