Kamala Harris has delivered her most significant speech since her 2024 election defeat, sharply criticizing Donald Trump‘s first 100 days in office, accusing him of a “wholesale abandonment” of U.S. ideals.
In her address, the former vice president described Trump’s presidency as having led to “the greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history.” She asserted that Trump’s politics have largely benefited the wealthy and fostered a “narrow, self-serving vision,” where truth-tellers are punished, loyalists are favored, and the general public is left to struggle.
“Instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals,” Harris stated, just one day after Trump marked his first 100 days in office.
In her 15-minute speech, Harris acknowledged the anxiety felt by many Democrats since her election loss and cautioned that “things are probably going to get worse before they get better.” Despite the challenges, she urged her supporters not to despair, saying, “Courage is contagious,” and emphasized the importance of standing together.
She delivered the speech to a San Francisco crowd at an event hosted by Emerge America, a group that trains Democratic women for political office. Harris had barely referenced Trump since conceding defeat to him in November 2024, but her latest comments signal a more vocal return to the political stage.
While she did not explicitly offer solutions, she ended her speech with a message of unity and hope, stating, “The one check, the one balance, the one power that must not fail is the voice of the people.”
The speech comes as many Democrats are searching for a path forward after the Republican Party not only won the presidency but also gained control of Congress. Harris is considered a potential candidate for California Governor in the upcoming elections and could run for president again in the future.
During a campaign-style rally on Tuesday, Trump also took aim at Harris, mockingly calling her a “great border czar” and a “great candidate,” repeating lines from his campaign speeches.
