Kamala Harris Cursed Anderson Cooper After Tense Interview

A new book, Original Sin, co-authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, reveals that former Vice President Kamala Harris called CNN host Anderson Cooper a “motherf–ker” to colleagues after a contentious interview following President Joe Biden’s faltering debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024. 

The debate, marked by Biden’s frail appearance and frequent lapses, sparked widespread Democratic concern and ultimately led to his withdrawal from the 2024 race.

Harris, who was urged by aides to skip post-debate interviews, defended Biden on CNN, downplaying his “slow start” and emphasizing his “historic” three-and-a-half-year record. Cooper pressed her on Democratic “panic” over Biden’s “disaster” debate, questioning whether the president should step aside. Harris countered that Biden finished “strong” and dismissed critiques as “style points.”

 
Despite praise from Biden’s team for her defense, Harris was furious post-interview, reportedly saying, “This motherf–ker doesn’t treat me like the damn vice president of the United States,” taking Cooper’s questions personally, according to the book.

Original Sin, released May 20, 2025, also details Biden’s struggles during debate prep at Camp David, describing him as “rusty” and napping through the first day. His mock debate performances were inconsistent, with a weak voice, halting delivery, and scattered answers. Aides noted his open-mouthed expression when not speaking and his need for cough drops as his voice worsened. Biden later cited a cold for his poor debate showing, which marked a historic moment as he became the first elected president since Lyndon Johnson in 1968 not to seek re-election.