Harris accuses Trump of ’wholesale abandonment’ of American beliefs in main post-election speech

Former Vice President Kamala Harris used a high-profile speech Wednesday (April 30, 2025) to sharply criticize President Donald Trump amid hypothesis about whether or not she’s going to mount one other presidential marketing campaign or choose to run for California Governor.

In her most in depth public remarks since leaving workplace in January following her defeat to Mr. Trump, Ms. Harris stated she’s impressed by Individuals combating Mr. Trump’s agenda regardless of threats to their freedom or livelihood.

“As a substitute of an administration working to advance America’s highest beliefs, we’re witnessing the wholesale abandonment of these beliefs,” Ms. Harris stated a day after Mr. Trump reached 100 days in workplace.

Earlier than Wednesday (April 30, 2025), Ms. Harris had barely talked about Mr. Trump by identify since she conceded defeat to him in November.

In a 15-minute speech, she spoke to the anxiousness and confusion which have gripped a lot of her supporters since Mr. Trump took workplace however discouraged despair.

“They’re relying on the notion that if they will make some folks afraid, it’s going to have a chilling impact on others. However what they’ve missed is that concern will not be the one factor that’s contagious,” Ms. Harris stated. “Braveness is contagious.”

Mr. Trump went after Ms. Harris in a campaign-style rally Tuesday (April 29, 2025) marking his one centesimal day in workplace. He sarcastically known as her a “nice border czar” and a “nice candidate,” and repeated a number of the applause traces he routinely delivered in the course of the marketing campaign.

Till Ms. Harris changed Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket final summer time, Mr. Trump stated, “I knew nothing about her.”

Ms. Harris cautioned Individuals towards viewing Mr. Trump’s administration as merely chaotic, casting it as a substitute as a “high-velocity occasion,” the fruits of in depth work on the fitting to remake authorities.

“A vessel is getting used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been many years within the making,” Ms. Harris stated. “An agenda to slash public schooling. An agenda to shrink authorities after which privatize its companies. All whereas giving tax breaks to the wealthiest amongst us.”

Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, accompanied by Emerge President and CEO A’shanti Gholar, attends a gala in San Francisco, California, U.S.
| Picture Credit score:
Reuters

Ms. Harris selected a pleasant viewers for her return to the political enviornment, addressing the twentieth anniversary gala for Emerge America, a company that recruits and trains Democratic ladies to run for workplace. It grew partly from Ms. Harris’ run for San Francisco district legal professional within the early 2000s.

The speech was delivered beneath luminous chandeliers in a gold-trimmed ballroom within the landmark Palace Lodge.

Ms. Harris is ramping up her public presence as Democrats nationally seek for a path ahead after November’s election, wherein Republicans additionally gained management of Congress. Whereas a slate of high-profile Democrats — from governors to businessmen — search management roles throughout the get together, the previous vice chairman retains distinctive affect and would reshape any future race she chooses to enter.

She praised Democrats who’ve been particularly prolific in criticising Mr. Trump, name-dropping lawmakers numerous of their ideology and elegance: Sens. Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders together with Reps. Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

However she didn’t take a stand in considered one of her get together’s central divides, neither calling for mass mobilization like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker or questioning Democratic positioning on key points like California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“I’m not right here tonight to supply all of the solutions,” Ms. Harris stated. “However I’m right here to say this: You aren’t alone and we’re all on this collectively.”

However she warned that issues will in all probability worsen earlier than they get higher.

“The one examine, the one stability, the one energy that should not fail is the voice of the folks,” she stated.

Ms. Harris, a former state legal professional normal and U.S. senator from California, has not discouraged hypothesis that she would possibly enter the race to exchange the term-limited Newsom, himself a possible contender for president. And he or she has not dominated out one other run for the White Home.

She didn’t handle her future Wednesday (April 30, 2025).

She continues to fundraise, utilizing a joint committee that features Ms. Harris for President, the Democratic Nationwide Committee and state Democratic events. The committee, the Ms. Harris Victory Fund, reported having about $4.5 million readily available on the finish of March, based on federal information.

In current fundraising emails, Ms. Harris has been blunt in regards to the want for Democrats to unify forward of the 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats have to “arrange and cease Trump’s agenda whereas electing Democrats in all places,” she wrote in current emails. “There has by no means been a extra necessary time for a powerful Democratic Social gathering — one that’s prepared to face as much as Donald Trump, Elon Musk and what they’re doing to this nation.”

The occasion marks a homecoming of types. Ms. Harris lives in Los Angeles however she is from the San Francisco Bay Space, the place her political profession is rooted. For her first main speech because the election, she selected acquainted terrain and a pleasant, in some methods familial, crowd.

Lisa Gotbhi, a well being care govt in San Francisco, stated Ms. Harris’ loss final 12 months was a “shock,” however “she’s a voice we want and a frontrunner we want. Let’s get again within the battle.”