The White House defended Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday night, calling her a “vital partner” after CNN reported there were tensions between Harris’s office and the West Wing.

The report says the West Wing is exasperated by what it sees as dysfunction and a lack of focus on the part of the vice president and her staff. Meanwhile, many of Harris’ entourage are frustrated as they don’t think the vice president is being used adequately and instead are being sidelined, CNN reported.

Biden’s aides have been upset by what they see as Harris’ blunders, including her awkward laugh in June after NBC’s Lester Holt asked her why she hadn’t visited the southern border and her refusal to push back last month when a student at George Mason University accused Israel of committing “ethnic genocide” against Palestinians, according to the report.

The West Wing, however, has repeatedly told Harris staff it would welcome greater involvement from the vice president, but Harris’s office has not followed through on presenting their plans, said sources at CNN.

Meanwhile, Harris has told several confidants that she feels limited by what she has been able to do politically, and those around her are wary of her hinting at future political ambitions for fear Biden will consider. that of disloyalty, according to the report.

CNN says it interviewed nearly three dozen former and current Harris aides, administration officials, Democratic agents, donors and outside advisers for the article.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki sought Sunday night to rule out the existence of a rift between the offices of the president and vice president.

“For anyone who needs to hear it. @VP is not only a vital partner of @POTUS, but a bold leader who has tackled key and significant challenges facing the country, from voting rights to addressing the root causes of migration to expansion broadband, ”Psaki tweeted.

The CNN article follows Harris’ four-day trip to Paris, where she met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a wide range of issues, including global health, space, regional security, l ‘Indo-Pacific, the fight against terrorism and cybersecurity. . She also attended an Armistice Day commemoration, called on world leaders to tackle inequality during a speech at the Paris Peace Forum, and attended international meetings on cybersecurity and Libya. .

Symone Sanders, chief spokesperson for Harris, told CNN: “It is unfortunate that after a productive trip to France in which we reaffirmed our relationship with America’s longest-serving ally and demonstrated American leadership on the world stage, and after the passage of a historic bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create jobs and strengthen our communities, some in the media are focusing on the gossip – not on the results the president and vice president have. books.”

A USA Today / Suffolk University poll released last week showed Harris only had a 28% approval rating, lower than the 38% of Biden, 29% of Congressional Democrats and 35% of Congressional Republicans.