In her first major public address since leaving office, former Vice President Kamala Harris forcefully rebuked President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
Kamala Harris accused Trump of instigating the “greatest man-made economic crisis in modern history” and warned that his escalating conflicts with the courts may soon plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.
Harris spoke Wednesday night, April 30, 2025, at the Emerge Gala in San Francisco, an event benefiting a group that supports women entering political life. The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee used the occasion to mark the first 100 days of Trump’s second term and to sound the alarm over what she described as a deliberate, rapid erosion of American democratic norms.
“Instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals,” Harris declared to a standing ovation.
‘Reckless Tariffs,’ Rising Prices, and Economic Pain
Harris sharply criticized Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on imported goods, calling them “reckless” and directly responsible for the current economic downturn. Earlier in the day, official figures showed that the U.S. economy had contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter.
“These import taxes will hurt workers and families by raising the cost of everyday essentials, devastate retirement accounts that people spent a lifetime paying into, and paralyze American businesses, large and small,” Harris said.
The former vice president’s remarks are part of a growing chorus within the Democratic Party warning of a return to trade protectionism. While Trump argues the tariffs are necessary to correct trade imbalances and reshore U.S. manufacturing, critics say the consequences for global markets and American consumers are already proving severe.
Constitutional Concerns and the Courts
Harris’ speech carried a deeper warning about the state of the nation’s democracy, emphasizing the Trump administration’s adversarial posture toward the judiciary.
“We are living in a moment where the checks and balances on which we have historically relied have begun to buckle,” she said. “And if both Congress and the courts do their part but the president defies them anyway – well friends, that is called a constitutional crisis.”
She urged Democrats to remain vigilant and united, calling the American people “the one check, the one balance, the one power that must not fail.”
A Political Reemergence — And a Fork in the Road
Harris’ appearance marked a calculated return to the public stage following her loss in the 2024 election. While the future remains uncertain, her team is reportedly weighing whether she should mount a 2026 gubernatorial bid in California or wait to enter the 2028 presidential primary.
“It’s wonderful to be home,” Harris said from the stage, in a not-so-subtle nod to her potential political recalibration.
The former vice president also praised a wide range of Democratic lawmakers — from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Sens. Chris Murphy and Cory Booker — for what she called their “moral clarity” in speaking out against the current administration.
Looking Ahead: Democratic Leadership in Flux
As Harris begins to reassert her voice, other prominent Democrats have filled the leadership void in the early days of Trump’s second term. Gov. Gavin Newsom has used his podcast to spar with right-wing influencers; Sen. Sanders is rallying progressives nationwide; and Gov. JB Pritzker has staked a bolder position on internal party reform.
Meanwhile, Harris’ 2024 running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, warned this week at Harvard that any Democratic contender appearing more focused on ambition than the moment risks being “buried” by a restless electorate.
Still, Harris struck a tone of urgency and resilience in her Wednesday remarks, calling on Democrats to stay together through difficult days ahead.
“Straight talk: Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris said. “But we are ready for it. We are not going to scatter. We are going to stand together — everyone a leader.”
