Kamala Harris Unloads on Trump's Policies: A Dangerous Betrayal of America's Core Values
Trump's ex-vice president, Kamala Harris, lashes out at the president's administration policies during her first significant address post-office.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris unleashed her sharpest criticism of President Trump since leaving office, branding his policies as a reckless betrayal of the nation's founding principles. Speaking at a fundraising gala in San Francisco, Harris denounced the Trump administration's actions as a deliberate abandonment of American ideals, and warned of an impending constitutional crisis.
"Alright, I acknowledge that tonight's event coincides with the 100 days since the inauguration," Harris began. "Many might delve into the details of the first few months. But today, I want to focus on something more critical — our nation's core values."
Harris asserted that instead of an administration working to uphold America's highest ideals, they have been witnessing a dramatic departure from these values. The consequences — slashing government services, prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy, neglecting public education — have been long in the making, she argued, the result of decades-long efforts to alter the nation's norms and social safety net.
"The agenda we see today is a narrow, self-serving vision of America, where they punish truth-tellers, favor loyalists, exploit their power, and abandon everyone to fend for themselves," Harris declared. "With allies deserted and the world shunned, we are living in their vision for America as we speak. But this is not the America we want."
In response to Harris' remarks, a Trump spokesperson dismissed her comments, branding her a "failing loser."
The energized speech in San Francisco came amid ongoing speculation about Harris' potential run for California governor in 2026, as term limits will force Gov. Gavin Newsom to step down. Some Democratic rivals have already criticized Harris for not announcing her intentions, while others speculate that she could instead pursue a third bid for the presidency in 2028.
The 2026 California Governor Race
The race to replace Gavin Newsom as California governor is shaping up to be a diverse and competitive one. Numerous candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — have declared their intention to run. Notable Democrats include:
- Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General, focusing on affordability issues[2][5].
- Eleni Kounalakis, the current Lieutenant Governor of California[4][5].
- Tony Thurmond, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction[2][5].
- Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles Mayor and Speaker of the Assembly[2][4].
- Tony Atkins, the former Senate pro tem and Speaker of the Assembly[2].
- Betty Yee, the current California Democratic Party Vice Chair and former State Controller[2].
Among the Republicans,Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco stand out as declared contenders[1][5]. Additional Republicans have filed to run, though not all may make it to the ballot. There is also buzz about a potential entry from former Vice President Kamala Harris[4].
As she closed her speech, Harris addressed her thoughts on the current state of the nation, drawing parallels to a viral video of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park forming a protective circle during an earthquake.
"When the ground shook beneath those elephants, they instantly connected and formed a protective circle around their young," Harris reflected. "Just as those animals demonstrated, in times of crisis, our instinct should be to connect with one another and stand strong as one."
Further Reading
- Kamala Harris plans pointed critique of Trump in first major speech since leaving office
- Kamala Harris tells students to 'stay in the fight' after the election
- 'Do not despair,' Harris tells supporters as she concedes the election
- Kamala Harris delivers a damning verdict on Trump's first 100 days
- Trump's Imperial 100 Days: Disrupt, Break, Defund
- Kamala Harris, in a fiery speech at a San Francisco fundraising gala, criticized President Trump's policies, calling them a dangerous betrayal of America's core values.
- She denounced the Trump administration's actions as a deliberate abandonment of American ideals and warned of an impending constitutional crisis.
- The 2026 California Governor Race is shaping up to be competitive, with numerous candidates from both Democrats and Republicans declaring their intentions to run.
- Notable Democrats include Xavier Becerra, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, Tony Atkins, and Betty Yee.
- Among the Republicans, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco have declared their intentions to run, with rumors of a potential entry from former Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Harris closed her speech by drawing parallels to a viral video of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park forming a protective circle during an earthquake, calling for unity in times of crisis.
- In 2024, after conceding the election, Harris told supporters, "Do not despair."
- Her speech comes amid ongoing speculation about Harris' potential run for California governor in 2026 or a third bid for the presidency in 2028.
