Kamala Harris could be just months away from being elected as the first female President of the United States, after Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 race for election on Sunday.
The current vice president, 59, has been endorsed by Biden, 81, as the Democratic nominee to take on Donald Trump in November.
Despite receiving the support of the current president, Harris has been ridiculed since becoming VP for a series of blunders when addressing public issues in interviews, press conferences and even in statements.
From stumbling over her words when addressing the White House‘s Covid-19 strategy to confusedly repeating herself over the use of community banks, here are some of her most embarrassing slip-ups.
On AI
In July 2023, Harris was ridiculed after delivering a jumbled explanation of artificial intelligence
In July 2023, Harris was ridiculed after delivering a jumbled explanation of artificial intelligence.
She was speaking at a gathering of labor and civil rights leaders in Washington DC at the time, but did little to assure attendees that she had a strong grasp of the subject.
She continued: ‘It’s about machine learning, and so, the machine is taught — and part of the issue here is what information is going into the machine that will then determine — and we can predict then, if we think about what information is going in, what then will be produced in terms of decisions and opinions that may be made through that process.’
The remarks drew criticism from conservatives on Twitter, especially after a clip of the event was posted by the Republican National Committee’s @RNCResearch account, which has been quick to pounce on Harris’ gaffes.
‘Why does she address us as if we are 5 years old?’ one user asked.
On reproductive rights
Ms Harris’s preoccupation with time raised its head again last April at a political event on reproductive rights
Harris’s preoccupation with time raised its head again last April at a political event on reproductive rights.
She told attendees: ‘I think it’s very important…for us at every moment in time and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past but the future.’
On transportation
Harris made an awkward mistake when appearing alongside Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in July last year for an event with disability rights advocates to increase transportation accessibility
When appearing next to an expert – regardless of the area they specialize in – it is always important to make a good impression.
Harris did anything but that when appearing alongside Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in July last year for an event with disability rights advocates to increase transportation accessibility.
She gave a remarkably basic summary, stating: ‘This issue of transportation is fundamentally about just making sure that people have the ability to get where they need to go,’ she said, chuckling. ‘It’s that basic.’
On South Korea
Following the conclusion of a tour across Asia, which ended with a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Harris mistakenly confused the communist North Korea with the US’ ally nation of South Korea
Following the conclusion of a tour across Asia, which ended with a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Harris mistakenly confused the communist North Korea with the US’ ally nation of South Korea.
‘The United States shares a very important relationship, which is an alliance with the Republic of North Korea,’ Harris said during a speech, intending to refer to the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea.
‘It is an alliance that is strong and enduring,’ she continued, not appearing to recognize her mistake.
A communications advisor for Texas Senator Ted Cruz called Harris a ‘flat out moron’ for her remarks.
On equality for Hispanic people:
One of Harris’ most confusing outbursts was to burst into laughter after uttering the phrase ‘you think you just fell out of a coconut tree? when addressing equality for Hispanic people
One of Harris’ most confusing outbursts was to burst into laughter after uttering the phrase ‘you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’, while giving a speech on equality and advancement for Hispanic people.
She appeared to be trying to explain the need to focus on the wider community, adding that ‘nothing exists in a silo’.
After a clip of the speech went viral earlier this year, it became a popular internet meme that was widely circulated by her supporters, who are informally known as the ‘K-hive’.
One ‘K-hive’ member wrote: ‘To anybody who thinks it shouldn’t be Kamala Harris: you do know a new candidate can’t just fall out of a coconut tree, right?’
On illegal immigration
Harris said that ‘the border is secure’ before appearing to contradict herself by blaming a ‘broken immigration system’ in what was a convoluted take on the issue
Having been appointed as VP by the Biden administration, one of Harris’ key objectives was to tackle the ‘root cause’ of immigration.
‘I think that there is no question that we have to do what the president and I asked Congress to do, the first request we made: pass a bill to create a pathway to citizenship,’ Harris said in a Meet the Press interview in September 2022.
She went to add that ‘the border is secure’ before appearing to contradict herself by blaming a ‘broken immigration system’ in what was a convoluted take on the issue.
‘We’re going to have two million people cross this border for the first time ever. You’re confident this border is secure?’ interviewer Chuck Todd asked.
‘We have a secure border in that that is a priority for any nation including ours in our administration,’ Harris replied.
On job development
On the issue of bettering transportation access for workers, Harris said: ‘Together, we are expanding access to transportation. Seems like maybe it’s a small issue, it’s a big issue.
Harris appeared to be tongue-tied during a speech at the White House in September 2022, as she tripped over her words while discussing federal investments in workforce development.
On the issue of bettering transportation access for workers, Harris said: ‘Together, we are expanding access to transportation. Seems like maybe it’s a small issue, it’s a big issue.’
‘You need to get to go and need to be able to get where you need to go to do the work’.
On Roe V Wade
Asked whether years of Democratic majorities had failed by not codifying abortion rights, VP Kamala Harris said: ‘I think that, to be very honest with you, I do believe that we should have rightly believed, but we certainly believe that certain issues are just settled.’
When addressing one of the biggest decision in US legal history, Kamala was once again left with egg on her face as she struggled to answer whether Democratic presidents and congresses failed by never codifying abortion rights.
‘I think that, to be very honest with you, I do believe that we should have rightly believed, but we certainly believe that certain issues are just settled. Certain issues are just settled,’ Harris said.
On community banks
Kamala endured another unfortunate slip-up when addressing the press at Sycamore & Oak retail village in DC back in August 2023
Kamala endured another unfortunate slip-up when addressing the press at Sycamore & Oak retail village in DC back in August 2023.
She emphasized to reporters that ‘community banks are in the community’ and that investing in them is therefore good for the community.
‘And so for years we have worked to expand investment in community banks because, you see, community banks specialize in providing loans and financial assistance to small business owners, in particular those in overlooked and underserved communities,’ the vice president said.
‘And as the name suggests, community banks are in the community,’ she added.
In response, the deputy spokesman for Speaker Kevin McCarthy asked: ‘But do they also offer services as it relates to banking?’
‘Let’s see if she can figure this one out! Grocery stores sell GROCERIES,’ conservative radio personality Ken Miles wrote, and included a thinking emoji.
‘She actually said this,’ conservative communications specialist Steve Guest tweeted.
On Covid
Harris gave a flummoxing answer in January 2022 when asked by NBC’s Craig Melvin about the White House’s Covid strategy
Harris gave a flummoxing answer in January 2022 when asked by NBC’s Craig Melvin about the White House’s Covid strategy.
‘Does the administration say, ‘You know what, this strategy isn’t working. We’re going to change strategies. Is it time?’, Melvin asked.
Harris responded by saying ‘it’s time for us to do what we have been doing, and that time is every day’.