Former Vice President Kamala Harris drew criticism for a speech delivered to the cast of A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical on Broadway, with detractors mocking her remarks as incoherent and likening her delivery to a "word salad." The event, which took place over the weekend, was part of a broader visit to New York, where Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, also attended a performance of Gypsy.
After receiving a standing ovation from the audience, Harris addressed the cast backstage, offering what was intended to be an inspirational message. "When we think about these moments where we see things that are being taken, but also let's see it, you know, nature abhors a vacuum," Harris said. "Where there's a vacancy, let's fill it. Let us know that the reality is that the progress of our nation has been about the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights."
She continued, "We're seeing a U-turn right now. For those rights to be maintained, which means we have to be vigilant. It's just the nature of it." She concluded by saying, "We have to be clear-eyed. And it doesn't mean we don't see the beauty in everything. These things all co-exist, but I believe we fight for something, not against something."
The speech was met with applause from the cast and crew, but it quickly became the subject of ridicule online. Critics accused Harris of delivering a meandering message that lacked clarity. "Kamala Harris hit Broadway and, of course, served up her signature word salad. A friendly reminder of what we dodged in the White House," one social media user wrote.
Another critic commented, "Literally, the only thing worse than listening to this gobbledygook is the folks around her nodding and clapping as if she made sense." Others mocked her rhetorical style, sharing GIFs of salad being mixed, a reference to the frequent criticism of her speeches as convoluted.
Harris, who served as vice president under President Joe Biden, has remained in the public eye following her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Since leaving office in January, she has hinted at a potential return to politics, with speculation mounting that she may run for governor of California once Gavin Newsom's term ends.
Supporters, however, defended her remarks. Wes Barnes, a cast member of A Wonderful World, shared a video of the speech on TikTok, praising Harris for taking the time to engage with the performers. "Not only did she take the time to inspire us and speak life into us, but she was so gracious with her time as well," he said.
Some fans lamented Harris' 2024 loss, with one commenter writing, "Her presence is commanding yet gentle." Another supporter added, "What could have been."
Harris has faced criticism for her rhetorical style throughout her political career. During her vice presidency and presidential campaign, she was frequently accused of delivering vague, meandering statements that lacked substance. One of her most widely discussed lines came during a 2023 speech in Ghana, where she described innovation as "one's ability not only to see, but to do things differently" and "the pursuit of what can be unburdened by what has been."
Her post-election speeches have similarly drawn scrutiny. During a holiday reception for supporters in December, she urged them not to lose hope, saying, "Please, I have to just-I have to insist, that please do not let your spirit or your purpose be defeated."
Despite the backlash, Harris has continued to maintain a presence in Democratic politics and has indicated she is not stepping away from public life. She warned that she would not "go quietly into the night" after leaving office.
