Biden's Mexico Ambassador Considered 2024 Presidential Run Over Border Policy Frustration
Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar writes in an upcoming memoir that he considered running for president in 2024 due to frustration with the Biden administration's handling of the southern border. Salazar criticized the administration's political failure to grasp the border crisis and called Kamala Harris's role as de facto 'border czar' ineffective. The revelations are significant as Salazar is now positioning a 'Borderlands Platform' ahead of 2028, raising questions about his own political ambitions.
Ken Salazar, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under President Biden, reveals in his forthcoming memoir 'Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America' that he seriously contemplated a 2024 presidential run out of frustration with the administration's border policies. Salazar repeatedly urged White House officials and Biden himself to appoint a 'border czar,' a role that ultimately went to Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he describes as having been 'unable to help with the border and migration crisis.' He told his wife at one point that he was 'not sure this administration knows what it's doing,' and described the border as 'antiquated, under-resourced, underdeveloped, insecure, and broken,' even acknowledging that 'in this, Trump had been correct.' Salazar went so far as to consult advisors and have a platform drafted before abandoning the idea after the Democratic Party coalesced around Harris following Biden's withdrawal from the race. The book, set for release July 28, is framed as a warning to future Democratic presidential contenders on immigration policy. Salazar has also proposed a new U.S.-Mexico-Canada alliance to share economic and border responsibilities, and has declined to rule out a 2028 presidential bid when asked directly.
What's missing
It is unclear what specific policy proposals Salazar advocated for internally that were rejected, beyond the 'border czar' recommendation.
How coverage differed
Politico and The Hill both reported straightforwardly on Salazar's memoir and border frustrations, with The Hill adding detail about his proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada alliance and his evasive response to questions about 2028. Fox News did not cover the Salazar story at all, instead running an unrelated piece about a different former Biden aide, Andrew Bates, framing it through a conservative lens emphasizing Democratic dysfunction and political liabilities.
What different sources said
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