Kamala Harris
U.S. Senator Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Vice President Kamala Harris recently found herself in the eye of a political storm. The reason? A seemingly innocuous comment about President Joe Biden's health. During a recent interview on CBS's "60 Minutes" with journalist Bill Whitaker, Harris was questioned about the concerns of Democratic donors regarding Biden's potential inability to run for a second term. Whitaker pointed out that Harris, being the Vice President, would be the natural successor. However, he also mentioned that donors might not automatically support her.

Harris's response to this line of questioning was both firm and direct. "First of all, I'm not going to engage in that hypothetical because Joe Biden is very much alive and running for re-election," she stated. This comment, meant to emphasize the President's vitality, instead drew a flurry of reactions from various quarters.

Benny Johnson, the host of 'The Benny Johnson Show', was one of the first to express his shock on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Sharing a clip of the conversation, Johnson humorously transcribed the essence of the dialogue, emphasizing Harris's affirmation of Biden's health. His tweet read, "REPORTER: "Democrat donors tell us that they don't like the Joe Biden falls over all the time, can't speak English and has dementia. Can you reassure them?" Kamala Harris: "I can assure you that Joe Biden is very much ALIVE..." [Cackles] WHAT!? "

 

The internet was quick to pick up on this, with many echoing Johnson's sentiments. Comments ranged from finding Harris's statement "cringeworthy" to expressing genuine concern about why such a clarification was even necessary. One user remarked, "It is such a strange thing to say as a response," while another added, "This is the start of something. Why would you say he's alive? That's worrisome."

Fox & Friends co-hosts also weighed in on the matter. Brian Kilmeade labeled the interview as "one of the softest" on "60 Minutes", while Lawrence Jones humorously highlighted Harris's emphasis on Biden's well-being, quipping, "What a low bar."

Social media platforms were abuzz with reactions. Some found humor in the situation, with comments like "Well, thanks for stating he's alive Kamala. We're glad you got that question that never came up out of the way." Others were more critical, with remarks such as "She CRAY CRAY."

Despite the varied reactions, one thing is clear: in today's hyper-connected world, even a simple statement can spark widespread debate and discussion. As the Biden administration continues its tenure, it remains to be seen how such incidents will shape public perception and political narratives.