In a resurrection of a controversial 2018 TV appearance, Vice President Kamala Harris finds herself under scrutiny.
According to the New York Post, the controversial joke made by Kamala Harris on the "Ellen" show in April 2018, has regained attention following recent threats against former President Donald Trump.
In the wake of two assassination attempts on Donald Trump, statements made by Vice President Kamala Harris during a 2018 interview have drawn fresh criticism. During her appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres-hosted TV show, while serving as a U.S. Senator, Harris joked in response to a hypothetical question about being stuck in an elevator with Trump, Mike Pence, or Jeff Sessions, quipping, "Does one of us have to come out alive?"
The clip gained renewed circulation initially by the Trump campaign during the contentious 2020 presidential elections.
Since its resurgence, right-leaning commentators and media figures have intermittently amplified the clip, particularly after the first attempt on Trump’s life this past July. The second, closer in date, occurred in September near Trump's Florida golf club, further intensifying discussions around Harris's past rhetoric and its possible influence on political violence.
Tom Fitton, President of Judicial Watch, commented on the matter, stating, "Not funny, then or now."
These events have significantly marked the political landscape, prompting various reactions from different quarters. Vice President Harris has publicly condemned the violence directed at the former president, distancing her previous remarks from any violent intentions. Nevertheless, the connection has been a talking point amongst her critics. Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson harshly criticized Harris, linking her on-show comment to a broader political hostility:
Kamala Harris openly joked about assassinating President Trump in 2018 as an audience of lobotomized clapping seals cheered. And you're wondering how we ended up here?
Following both assassination attempts—the first by Thomas Matthew Crooks who managed to injure Trump, and the second by Ryan Wesley Routh, who was shortly arrested on gun charges—discussion around political rhetoric and its impacts has become more heated. Critics highlight a part of the anti-Trump sentiment expressed by Harris and others as a potential catalyst for such violent actions.
Various perspectives on the issue range from outright condemnation of the violence to scrutiny of the weaved political rhetoric. Here is what Donald Trump himself had to say:
The Rhetoric, Lies, as exemplified by the false statements made by Comrade Kamala Harris during the rigged and highly partisan ABC Debate, and all of the ridiculous lawsuits specifically designed to inflict damage on Joe’s, then Kamala’s, Political Opponent, ME, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust.
Several figures in conservative circles and online platforms have drawn direct lines from Harris's comments to the assassination attempts. Statements on social media reflect this sentiment, suggesting that Harris's portrayal of Trump as a threat may encourage harm.
Overall, this deep dive into a moment from a four-year-old interview underscores the extensive tension and polarization currently characterizing U.S. political discourse, reflecting how past comments can gain new life and relevance in light of current events. The revisit of Harris's comment on "Ellen", linked to recent threats against Trump, emphasizes ongoing debates over the boundaries of political speech and the real-world implications it may carry.
