White House reacts to Kamala Harris' scathing criticism of Trump in first major speech: 'We encourage...'

Former vice president Kamala Harris made her strongest criticism of the Donald Trump administration since her November election loss as she spoke a day after the new administration completed 100 days in office. “They are counting on the notion that if they can make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others. But what they have overlooked is that fear is not the only thing that’s contagious,” Harris said. “Courage is contagious.”

Kamala Harris was speaking at the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge America, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. “A vessel is being used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making,” Harris said. “An agenda to slash public education. An agenda to shrink government and then privatize its services. All while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest among us.”

Karoline Leavitt: "I think I speak for everyone at the White House, we encourage Kamala Harris to continue going out and do speaking engagements." 😂😂

We also hope to see more speaking engagements from Tim Walz, Jasmine Crockett, and David Hogg! pic.twitter.com/FytNljwJXv

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 1, 2025

Republicans found Kamala Harris' speech uninspiring, dull and full of word salads as Harris digressed to a viral video of elephants during an earthquake as she attempted to reply to a frequently asked question to her on how to figure out things and what's going to guide us through this moment (Trump administration).

Referring to a viral video of what elephants did at the San Diego Zoo during the earthquake, Kamala Harris said the elephants got in a circle and stood next to each other to protect the most vulnerable. “What a powerful metaphor,” she said. “Because we know those who try to incite fear are most effective when they divide and conquer, when they separate the herd, when they try to make everyone think they are alone.”

This digression made Kamala Harris a laughing stock while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she speaks for everyone at the White House that Kamala Harris should do more speaking engagements. "I think I speak for everyone at the White House, we encourage Kamala Harris to continue going out and do speaking engagements," Leavitt said.

Leavitt's statement came as White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller commented on Kamala Harris' speech and said Americans only want to hear an apology from her. "The only thing Americans want to hear from Kamala Harris is an apology for joining Joe Biden in aiding and abetting the invasion of our country ... What they did to this country is unforgivable. It is an eternal stain," Stephen Miller said.