Kamala Harris Gives Her First Major Speech Since Leaving Office – Video

Former U.S. Vice President (VP) Kamala Harris recently delivered her first major speech since leaving office. She shared her thoughts on the Trump administration from San Francisco. Her reflections prompted a flurry of reactions from online viewers, with many praising what she had to say and others wondering if something was amiss.

With palpable intensity and unwavering conviction, Harris used her moment on stage at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala to frame the current political climate as a pivotal turning point in American history.

She praised the resolve of everyday citizens who, despite mounting pressures, have stood firm against what she called a “man-made economic crisis” brought on by “reckless tariffs” and systemic disregard for court orders.

“We all know President Trump and his administration, and their allies are counting on the notion that fear can be contagious,” she declared, her voice rising above the crowd’s applause. “But what they have overlooked is that fear is not the only thing that’s contagious. Courage is contagious.”

“The courage of Americans […] across the political spectrum, who are declaring that the president’s reckless tariffs hurt workers and families by raising the cost of everyday essentials, devastate the retirement accounts […] and paralyze American businesses […] forcing them to lay off people, to stop hiring or pause investment decisions,” she continued.

Harris then noted how this courage and the brave efforts by the American people, such as standing up to unconstitutional acts that threaten “hard-earned benefits” and “the pursuit of truth and academic independence,” inspire her.

She went on to challenge the narrative that the nation is descending into disorder. Instead, Harris offered a sobering interpretation, expressing, “Please, let us not be duped into thinking everything is chaos.”

“What we are in fact witnessing is a high velocity event where a vessel is being used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making,” Harris said.

Her pointed critique drew a sharp contrast between perceived confusion and what she described as a calculated strategy — one that, in her view, threatens foundational principles.

Perhaps the most arresting moment came when Harris sounded the alarm on the state of the nation’s democratic safeguards. “We are living in a moment when the checks and balances, upon which we have historically relied, have begun to buckle,” she warned.

“We here know that when the checks and balances ultimately collapse […] that is called a constitutional crisis, and that is a crisis that will eventually impact everyone,” explained the former VP.

Her message was clear: If traditional institutions falter, the onus falls on the people to protect democracy. Urging citizens not to retreat, she concluded her speech with a rallying cry.

“Lock it in! Gear up for the hard work ahead, and please, always remember this country is ours. It doesn’t belong to whoever is in the White House, it belongs to you! It belongs to We, the People!” Harris exclaimed.

As footage of Harris’s impassioned address circulated online, the digital response was swift and deeply polarized. Supporters lauded her fervor, her message, and the moment itself.

One netizen remarked, “You can see the rage and disappointment in her face, as well she should feel that way. She is the one we needed for our country n future [sic].” Another echoed a similar sentiment, “I’m absolutely blown away..! Wow 🎉Thank You EMERGE 🙏🏽💫💙,” while someone else enthused, “Incredible speech tonight! She covered everything!”

Emotional reactions poured in as well, with one viewer admitting they cried while watching the footage, as they were moved by Harris’s heartfelt delivery.

But not all feedback was glowing. Doubts about Harris’s demeanor and delivery surfaced across platforms, with some viewers questioning her tone and composure. “As an Australian watching this speech is she ok? Something doesn’t seem right. The rambling was hard to watch [sic],” observed one international viewer.

A different spectator plainly stated, “She looks angry,” while more critical voices went even further, with one commenter calling her “so fake,” and accusing her of lacking authenticity and originality in her words.

A number of skeptics challenged the substance behind Harris’s rhetoric, suggesting that her performance felt disjointed or overly emotional. Among these, one unimpressed person dryly noted, “Thats [sic] not how being back works.”

Though Harris’s widely-discussed latest address marks her first major political speech since leaving office, it was not her first time back at the podium this year. In February 2025, she appeared at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards, where she was honored with the Chairman’s Award.

During that shorter speech, Harris struck a more reflective and personal tone, expressing gratitude for the organization’s legacy and affirming her enduring commitment to public service.

Quoting W. E. B. Du Bois and referencing the shadows gathering over democracy, she urged the audience to “organize, mobilize,” and to refuse to “surrender to cynicism and destruction.”

Harris, who is a lifetime member of the NAACP, reminded listeners that the future of America rests not in the hands of those in the White House or the rich, but with the American people.

While Harris’s February speech centered on reflection and resilience, her most recent remarks landed around the same time U.S. President Donald Trump sat down for a striking primetime interview that underscored his administration’s narrative of national revival.

In a confident display on ABC, Trump touted what he framed as the restoration of American strength, recapping the first 100 days of his new term with a barrage of policy victories and blistering criticisms of his detractors.

“The border is the most significant because our country was really going bad … You had murderers coming in, you had everybody coming in … Now, it’s totally closed down,” he stated, pointing to what he described as a swift and unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration.

Doubling down on his signature “America First” rhetoric, Trump also took direct aim at the media, lambasting coverage of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s prior tenure as dishonest and complicit.

According to him, the American people had endured a period of steep decline — one marked by inflation, leadership failures, and unchecked crime — but are now witnessing a dramatic comeback.

From falling grocery prices and energy costs to aggressive deportation policies and trimmed government spending, the president painted a picture of a nation clawing its way back from crisis.

He even addressed international affairs, noting a somber meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and lamenting ongoing loss of life — a conflict, he insisted, that “would’ve never happened” under his leadership. “I’m doing one thing: I’m Making America Great Again,” Donald Trump declared overall.

As the political temperature continues to rise, the ripple effects are being felt not just in public office but within personal lives as well. Amid Harris’s impassioned call to action and Trump’s interview reflections, Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, shared a sobering personal update of his own.

On April 29, Emhoff took to X to reveal that he had been removed from his position on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

In his statement, Emhoff voiced deep concern over what he described as the politicization of Holocaust remembrance, warning against turning historical atrocities into wedge issues.

He also affirmed that no political maneuver would deter him from continuing his fight against hate in all its forms.