The children's book authored by US Vice President Kamala Harris has been unexpectedly pulled from sale after a promotional video featuring President Joe Biden triggered a storm of criticism.
The work, titled 'Superheroes Are Everywhere', was abruptly withdrawn from the Simon & Schuster website this week. The move came just hours after President Biden posted a video on his X.com account (formerly Twitter) enthusiastically endorsing the book to his millions of followers.
In the now-deleted video, the 81-year-old President held up a copy of the book, directly addressing his audience with the words: "Folks, check out this great book by Kamala Harris... It's a great way to teach our youngest Americans about the power of superheroes all around us." He signed off with a pointed "Go get your copy."
The overt promotion, explicitly urging purchases, was immediately seized upon by critics and political opponents. They accused the White House of blurring ethical lines and leveraging the presidency for commercial and political gain, effectively using a children's book as a campaign tool.
Publisher Removes Book Without Explanation
Following the swift backlash, the book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, removed the title from its online store. The product page now displays a stark "This title is not currently available for purchase" message.
Neither the publisher nor the Vice President's office has provided an official statement clarifying the reasons behind the sudden withdrawal. The silence has only fuelled further speculation about the decision being a direct response to the intense political heat generated by the President's endorsement.
A Pattern of Political Book Controversies
This incident is not the first time a book by a senior Biden administration figure has sparked controversy. Last year, a memoir by the President's son, Hunter Biden, faced similar scrutiny and accusations of being leveraged for political narrative-building.
The rapid withdrawal of the Vice President's book suggests a keen awareness within the Democratic camp of the potent criticism that can arise from perceived overlaps between official duty, political campaigning, and commercial activity, especially when aimed at children.
As the 2024 election cycle begins to intensify, this episode underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding political messaging and the immense scrutiny every action by senior White House figures now receives.
