Former Vice President Kamala Harris has maintained a notably low profile since her November election defeat. Indeed, the once-omnipresent Democratic standard-bearer virtually disappeared from public view. Her rare appearances have been limited to a California wildfire relief center, a Los Angeles Lakers game, and LA FireAid concerts.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party continues searching for its footing after President Donald Trump’s decisive electoral victory. Leadership remains fragmented. Messaging appears increasingly disconnected from everyday Americans’ concerns.
Then Harris suddenly reappeared. On Saturday, she stepped onto the stage at the 56th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, California, to accept the Chairman’s Award.
This marked Harris’ first major speech since the election, and she wasted no time taking veiled shots at both President Trump and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk. Without naming either directly, her targets were unmistakable as she warned about “shadows gathering over our democracy.”
I couldn’t help but wonder: what shadows exactly? The ones cast by voters who rejected her administration’s policies?
“This chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor by the wealthiest among us,” Harris said, appearing to reference Trump and Musk, who is the wealthiest person in the world. “The American story will be written by you, written by us, by we, the people.”
Harris called for a “sense of urgency,” insisting that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” She then urged the audience to “stay alert, to seek the truth and to actively participate in the fight for America’s future.”
The former vice president painted an ominous picture, telling attendees.
“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask, what do we do now?” she stated.
Dramatic language, isn’t it? Perhaps Harris missed the memo that Americans are more concerned about inflation and border security than abstract threats to democracy.
From White House to Hollywood
Harris’s speech comes just days after she signed with powerful Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The agency announced it would focus on “speaking engagements and publishing” while working closely with Harris “on her post-White House initiatives.”
This career move mirrors former President Joe Biden’s own path. He also signed with CAA just two weeks after leaving office. The Los Angeles-based agency represents A-list celebrities including Beyoncé, Brad Pitt, and Ariana Grande.
The transition from political leadership to Hollywood representation raises questions about Democrats’ priorities after their electoral defeat. Rather than reconnecting with working-class voters in Middle America, party leadership appears to be doubling down on coastal elite connections. Are we surprised? Not in the slightest.
While Harris warns of “shadows gathering over democracy,” polls show Americans broadly supporting President Trump’s agenda. A recent Fox News survey indicated that a majority of Americans approve of Trump’s policy initiatives despite Democrats’ negative messaging. That’s what I call a reality check.
Harris’s warnings about democracy stand in stark contrast to the actual governance happening under President Trump. While she speaks of “eternal vigilance” and “the fight for America’s future,” the administration is implementing concrete policy changes.
Trump has moved swiftly to address border security, energy independence, and government inefficiency – all issues that resonated with voters in November. Meanwhile, Harris offers rhetorical flourishes without acknowledging the policy failures that led to her electoral defeat. How convenient to forget the border crisis she was tasked with addressing!
The former vice president told the NAACP audience, “Our strength flows from our faith. Faith in God, faith in each other and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction.”
Yet her speech contained no reflection on why Americans rejected the Harris-Biden administration’s vision.
This disconnect between rhetoric and reality continues to plague Democratic messaging. While Harris warns of abstract threats, Americans are responding positively to the tangible changes being implemented by the new administration. When given the choice between alarming rhetoric and actual results, citizens chose the latter.
The Fight for Government Efficiency
Perhaps most telling was Harris’s thinly veiled criticism of Musk, who currently leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Her reference to “the wealthiest among us” not writing the American story came as Musk implements accountability measures across federal agencies.
Musk recently required federal employees to submit five bullet points describing their weekly accomplishments. This basic accountability measure – standard practice in private sector employment – has drawn fierce resistance from entrenched bureaucracy and Democratic allies. As a taxpayer, I find it refreshing to see someone finally asking what we’re getting for our money.
While Harris speaks abstractly about “organizing” and “mobilizing,” Musk is taking concrete steps to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently. The contrast could not be more striking: one offers words, the other demands results.
The resistance to these efficiency measures reveals a fundamental divide in governance philosophy. The conservative approach prioritizes accountability, results, and fiscal responsibility. The progressive alternative seems increasingly focused on rhetoric over results. Which would you prefer managing your household budget?
Harris’s post-White House plans remain unclear, though reports suggest she’s keeping options open for either another presidential bid or a California gubernatorial run. What is clear, however, is that her message remains unchanged despite electoral rejection.
Harris concluded her speech saying, “While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office.”
Americans, however, decisively chose who would occupy that office last November. And that, perhaps, is what truly bothers the former vice president.
Key Takeaways:
- Harris emerged after months of silence to attack President Trump and Elon Musk while warning of vague “shadows” over democracy.
- While signing with a Hollywood talent agency, Harris remains disconnected from everyday Americans’ concerns about inflation and border security.
- As Musk implements basic accountability measures for federal employees, Harris criticizes efficiency efforts that protect taxpayer dollars.
- Americans chose Trump’s practical solutions over Democratic rhetoric, a reality Harris’s speech completely fails to acknowledge.
Sources: Fox News, The Independent
