A shocking revelation has emerged about Vice President Kamala Harris’ team preparing for President Joe Biden’s possible sudden death. According to a new book, Harris’s communications director crafted a detailed plan to ensure her swift ascension to the presidency would appear legitimate. This scheme, kept secret from Harris herself, raises questions about the lengths her team went to secure power.
According to Fox News, the book, “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” details a strategy by Jamal Simmons, Harris’ communications director, to navigate a potential crisis if Biden died unexpectedly. Published on Tuesday by William Morrow and Company, the book is authored by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen and The Hill’s Amie Parnes. It draws from interviews with over 150 political insiders.
Simmons, concerned about public and political backlash, feared Harris’s legitimacy as president might face scrutiny, particularly from supporters of former President Donald Trump. He drew parallels to Lyndon B. Johnson’s swearing-in after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. His plan hinged on projecting institutional stability during a chaotic transition.
To bolster Harris’s credibility, Simmons devised a spreadsheet listing federal judges appointed by Republicans, excluding those named by Trump. This “death-pool roster” included a city-by-city breakdown of judges who could swear Harris in as president. He believed a Republican-appointed judge would lend her greater authority.
Simmons carried this spreadsheet while traveling with Harris, ensuring he was prepared for any sudden need. He instructed colleagues to alert him immediately if Biden passed away so he could enact his communications strategy. The plan was designed to counter any challenges to Harris’s presidency.
Remarkably, Simmons never informed Harris of this roster before leaving his role in January 2023. He left the spreadsheet with another Harris staffer upon his departure. The book does not disclose the names of the judges included on the list.
The secrecy surrounding Simmons’ plan underscores the sensitivity of preparing for a president’s unexpected death. His concern about “Trump people” reacting strongly suggests he anticipated significant political pushback. This fear echoed the unrest following the January 6 attempt to block Biden’s certification.
Simmons’s strategy reflects a broader unease within Harris’s team about her public perception. The book notes former President Barack Obama’s hesitation to endorse Harris for the 2024 election, doubting her ability to defeat Trump. Obama’s lack of confidence in both Biden's and Harris’s political skills is a recurring theme. Trump ultimately won the presidency for a second term in November 2024, as documented in the book. Harris, previously a California senator, has since transitioned to a speaker role with CAA Speakers, representing high-profile figures. CAA did not respond to inquiries about the book’s claims.
The revelation of Simmons’ plan comes at a time when Harris’ political future remains uncertain. Her team’s proactive measures suggest a deep awareness of the challenges she might face as a potential president. The book paints a picture of a White House bracing for instability.
Biden and Harris appeared together at a campaign event on abortion rights in Manassas, Virginia, on January 23, 2024, alongside First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. This event, unrelated to Simmons’ plan, highlights their public unity during a contentious election year. Yet, the book’s disclosures cast a shadow over their partnership.
Simmons’ actions, though strategic, may strike many as unsettling, given the morbid premise of planning for a president’s death. His decision to exclude Trump-appointed judges suggests a calculated effort to avoid any association with the former president’s legacy. This move could alienate conservative voters who value judicial impartiality.
The fact that Harris was unaware of the roster raises concerns about transparency within her inner circle. Simmons’s choice to keep her in the dark may reflect a lack of trust in her ability to handle such a sensitive plan. It also highlights the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that often shapes political transitions.
The book’s authors emphasize Simmons believed a Republican-appointed judge would provide Harris with a “strongest validator.” This underscores the importance he placed on optics in a potential crisis. Yet, the secrecy of the plan could fuel skepticism about Harris’ readiness for leadership.
As conservatives reflect on this story, the idea of a “death-pool roster” may deepen distrust in political elites plotting contingencies. The notion of Harris’s team quietly preparing for power, while keeping her uninformed, feels like a betrayal of accountability. This account, rooted in insider interviews, serves as a stark reminder of the calculated nature of Washington’s power games.