In her upcoming memoir, 107 Days, former Vice President Kamala Harris offers an unprecedented look at her private interactions with Donald Trump during her historic 2024 presidential campaign, including moments that sharply contrast with the public hostility he frequently displayed toward her.
Harris recounts that while Trump spent much of the campaign attacking and belittling her in public, his tone behind the scenes was often markedly different. She describes a moment in September 2024 that illustrated the contrast. After a man was arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course, the then-Republican candidate publicly blamed Harris’ campaign rhetoric for fueling violence. Yet when Harris initiated a private phone call with Trump shortly afterward, she encountered an unexpected shift in demeanor.
“I’d readied myself for a phone conversation with Mr. Hyde, but Dr. Jekyll had picked up the call,” Harris reflects in her memoir.
According to Harris, Trump expressed gratitude for speaking with someone he felt understood the pressures of his “dangerous” position and offered her uncharacteristic praise. “You’ve done a great job, you really have,” he allegedly said. “My only problem is it makes it very hard for me to be angry with you. It’s like, what am I going to do? How do I say bad things about you now?”
“Well, then don’t!” Harris reportedly replied, laughing.
Trump allegedly responded, “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.”
Harris also recounts that the call concluded with an unexpected nod to Trump’s eldest daughter. “She’s a big fan,” he allegedly said, referring to Ivanka Trump. He then sent his regards to Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, praising him as “a really good guy” and complimenting his speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Despite these moments of cordiality, Harris writes that they did little to alter her overall perception of Trump. In 107 Days, she describes him as “a con man… really good at it.”
On the night of the 2024 presidential election, after projections indicated Trump’s victory, Harris called to formally concede. During that call, Trump pronounced her name correctly — a departure from the repeated mispronunciations he had popularized throughout the campaign. “I am going to be so nice and respectful,” he allegedly said. “You are a tough, smart customer, and I say that with great respect. And you also have a beautiful name. I got use of that name, it’s Kamala.”
Representatives for Donald and Ivanka Trump were contacted regarding Harris’ account of the phone calls.
107 Days is set for release on Sept. 23 and is available for preorder.