Kamala Harris criticized Trump in her first speech since her election defeat

^{Photo: Getty Images}
In his first major speech since his defeat, the former US vice president and Donald Trump's rival in the 2024 election criticized Donald Trump and his administration for their thoughtless policies that threaten the country with censorship and recession. His speech coincided with the 100th day of Trump's presidency.

In particular, he noted that Trump's tariff policy is "the largest man-made economic crisis in the modern history of the American presidency."

"Some people are describing the events of recent months as absolute chaos. And, of course, I understand why. It is, of course, because of these tariffs. “The tariffs are, as I’ve said before, going to cause a recession,” Harris said.

She applauded Americans who are speaking out against the policy, which could increase everyday spending, hurt retirement accounts and small businesses.

Harris’s first speech since her election loss was at a gala in San Francisco for Emerge America, an organization that helps women build political careers and run for office.

Kamala Harris called Trump’s entire presidential program, not just his economic agenda, “a narrow, self-serving vision of America that punishes those who tell the truth, rewards the loyal, exploits power to amass wealth, and leaves others to fend for themselves.”

She warned that if the system of checks and balances in government breaks down, the country could face a constitutional crisis.

“This is a crisis that ultimately affects everyone, because it means that the rules that protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, that guarantee each of us the right to vote on how our government works, are no longer relevant,” the former vice president said.

Kamala Harris has rarely appeared in public since the Democratic administration left the White House. She said that the Americans who have courageously opposed Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term and the judges who continue to uphold the rule of law in the country inspired her to speak in San Francisco.

“It is very likely that things will get worse before they get better. But we are ready for that,” Harris concluded her speech.

News