An “off-the-cuff” remark Vice President Kamala Harris made after being asked about the Hamas ceasefire agreement has generated backlash online.
On Monday, Hamas released a statement that its head of the group’s political wing, Ismail Haniyeh had spoken with Qatari and Egyptian officials of “approval of their proposal regarding the ceasefire agreement.” The agreement had come after several months of negotiations.
Following the announcement, Harris was spotted leaving a restaurant with what appears to be food in a bag. On video posted on X, she is heard saying “shrimp and grits.” It is unclear whether she heard the question from a member of the press about Hamas’ statement on ceasefire.
Once the video circulated, scores of people took to X to weigh in on the exchange.
Shrimp and grits are what’s on VP Kamala Harris’ mind. Not a #Ceasefire,” one commented.
Reporter: “Hamas says it accepted a ceasefire deal. Your reaction?”
Kamala Harris: “Shrimp and grits. You wanted to know? Shrimp and grits.”
These administration is not serious. There is a war going on, people are dying in the Middle East, our colleges are fool of protesters and Harris’ only answer is ‘Shrimp and grits.’ These is the person Democrats want you to vote for in November. Disgusting!”
“Imagine being so out of touch you assume the press waiting outside only want to know what’s in your doggy bag? ‘sHrImP & gRiTs’”
Following the remark, a spokesperson for Harris told Newsweek that she had spoken about the ceasefire before her spotting outside the restaurant.
“This morning I was on the call between the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu,” the spokesperson said. “We are closely tracking what is happening on the ground.”
The vice president’s office also mentioned that Harris had previously been asked by reporters about her restaurant order and didn’t catch the question regarding the Hamas ceasefire report. Despite Hamas’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government proceeded with a planned offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah just hours later.
“Israel’s war cabinet has unanimously decided that Israel will continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “The Hamas proposal is far from Israel’s necessary requirements” but would still be evaluated to reach an agreement.
