Former Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken out about the atmosphere of fear sweeping across the United States under Donald Trump’s renewed leadership — and took a subtle jab at voters in the process.
Since her defeat in the 2024 presidential election, Harris has kept a relatively low profile. But with Trump back in the White House and enacting sweeping policy changes — including controversial global tariffs that have rattled U.S. allies — she’s stepping back into the spotlight.
On April 3, Harris addressed the Leading Women Defined Summit in California, where she delivered a powerful speech about courage, fear, and the importance of speaking out during turbulent times.
“Courage is contagious,” Harris told the crowd.
“When even just one person — or a few — choose to stand up, to say, ‘This is wrong,’ to name their fear and push through it, that becomes a powerful act. And it reminds us that democracy still belongs to us — if we’re willing to hold on to it.”
Harris warned that further challenges under Trump’s administration are likely, especially as organizations stay silent and others capitulate to what she described as unconstitutional threats.
She continued: “These are the things we’re witnessing day after day in recent months. And yes — it creates fear. Because many of the things we’re seeing… we knew were coming. I’m not here to say, ‘I told you so.’”
She then laughed, prompting a wave of applause and laughter from the audience.
Elsewhere, Representative Jamie Raskin backed Harris’ sentiments during an interview with Jen Psaki on MSNBC, voicing frustrations about criticism that Democratic leaders had been absent or silent since the election.
“People kept asking, ‘Where’s the Democratic leadership?’” Raskin said. “But the reality is, it takes time to absorb the full impact of what’s happening. We’re dealing with an all-out attempt at authoritarian control, the purging of federal workers — attacks on every front.”
He emphasized that Democrats were no longer in retreat: “Now, everyone is in a fighting mood.”
Raskin also noted plans for an upcoming demonstration in Washington D.C., signaling a more public and coordinated resistance to Trump’s agenda moving forward.
READ MORE
- Eagle-eyed viewers point out Kamala Harris mistake on eve of voting
- Body language expert explains Kamala Harris’ ‘revealing tell’
