At a star-studded Michigan campaign event on Thursday night, Vice President Kamala Harris faced sharp criticism for her vague responses to key policy questions. Hosted by media mogul Oprah Winfrey, the "Unite for America" event was meant to spotlight grassroots organizers backing Harris in her bid for the presidency. However, the event quickly became notable for Harris's meandering answers, prompting Winfrey to nudge her toward more concise replies.
The two-hour livestream event, which featured celebrities like Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, and Jennifer Lopez, provided an opportunity for voters to ask Harris about her platform. Yet, despite the high-profile setting, the Democratic presidential nominee did not unveil any new policy proposals, drawing scrutiny from both critics and supporters. Harris's failure to provide clear answers on issues such as immigration and border security was a particular focal point.
During the event, one attendee asked Harris how she planned to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Harris, instead of offering specific solutions, embarked on a lengthy recounting of her experience as a prosecutor and California's attorney general, noting her familiarity with border issues. "This is not a theoretical issue for me. This is something I've actually worked on," Harris began. However, the response lacked details, leading Winfrey to interject, "So to answer Justin's question..."
When pressed by Winfrey on whether she would reintroduce a bipartisan border security bill that had previously failed in Congress, Harris eventually responded, "Absolutely. When I am elected president of the United States, I will make sure that bill gets to my desk and I will sign it into law." Despite this, Harris did not offer new or specific policies to address the ongoing border crisis, frustrating some viewers hoping for a more substantive discussion.
The event, livestreamed across multiple platforms including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, aimed to reach a wide audience, particularly younger voters and grassroots organizers. It featured endorsements from several high-profile figures, including Winfrey, who has been a vocal supporter of Harris since the Democratic National Convention. "Kamala Harris has unleashed a unifying force unlike anything we've seen in politics in a very long time," Winfrey said in her opening remarks.
Harris touched on several key issues throughout the evening, including abortion rights, gun violence, and small business support. She reiterated her support for policies such as providing $25,000 in down payments for first-time homebuyers and expanding the child tax credit, which she described as critical to helping working families. On abortion, Harris was particularly vocal, calling it "immoral" to deny individuals the right to make decisions about their own bodies, emphasizing the personal violations women face under restrictive laws.
However, the lack of new proposals from Harris drew mockery from her political opponents, particularly among conservative commentators. Many criticized her answers as evasive, with some labeling her responses as "word salad." Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt shared a clip of the event on social media, commenting, "Kamala's Excellent Adventure continues. An epic word salad." Similarly, internet personality Paul A. Szypula remarked, "The whole time you could feel Oprah wanted her to stop. The audience looks like they're realizing how gone Kamala is."
Harris's performance also reignited concerns about her ability to effectively communicate her platform as she campaigns for the presidency. As a candidate, Harris has given fewer media interviews than her predecessors, raising questions about her willingness to engage directly with voters. So far, she has conducted only six interviews since officially entering the race, the fewest of any recent Democratic presidential nominee. Critics argue that this limited media exposure, combined with her often meandering responses, could hinder her ability to connect with undecided voters.
Winfrey, who has played a pivotal role in supporting Harris's campaign, at times appeared to grow impatient with the vice president's circuitous answers. At one point, she had to step in to ensure Harris addressed the audience's question directly. Despite these moments, Winfrey expressed her unwavering belief in Harris's candidacy, remarking that the vice president has displayed more "swagger" and confidence since President Biden suspended his re-election bid. "You know, we each have those moments in our lives where it's time to step up," Harris said, reflecting on her transition to leading the Democratic ticket.
The backlash following the event was swift, with Trump supporters and other conservative commentators taking aim at Harris. Dinesh D'Souza, a far-right political commentator and filmmaker, criticized Harris for her perceived inability to answer questions without Winfrey's assistance. "The person running for the most powerful position in our country can't answer a question without Oprah next to her to step in," D'Souza tweeted.
Meanwhile, Harris's supporters pointed to the event's emotional moments, such as the participation of abortion rights advocate Hadley Duvall and the mother of Amber Nicole Thurman, a Georgia woman who died after being denied timely medical care due to abortion restrictions. These testimonials underscored the human stakes of the policies Harris is advocating for, particularly on women's rights.
David Rothkopf, a former senior official in President Bill Clinton's administration, defended Harris, calling her performance "extraordinary" and emphasizing the emotional weight of her message. "It has heart. It is deeply moving. It is human. It is not about politics, it is about people," Rothkopf wrote on social media.
