Kamala Harris, the former vice president and 2024 Democratic candidate, has called Donald Trump an “unchecked, incompetent, unhinged president.”
Harris accepts award and delivers sharp words
She made these strong remarks while receiving an award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington DC on Saturday evening.
Her speech came just weeks after the September 10 shooting death of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, an event that has pushed Trump allies to urge Democrats to lower their tone. Instead, Harris said the moment demands toughness. She told the audience that Democrats must “fight fire with fire” to push back against Trump and his allies.
Harris also reminded listeners of what she sees as the dangers of Trump’s second term. She pointed to his decisions on healthcare, food aid for the poor, tariffs, and the cutting of vaccine funding. She said these moves had real impacts on ordinary people, raising prices and risking public health. She also criticized his choice to send military troops into American cities.
Criticism of institutions and media battles
Harris did not stop at Trump alone. She also attacked powerful institutions that she said had bent under pressure from the president. Universities, she claimed, have paid out hundreds of millions to settle antisemitism claims.
Law firms have changed hiring practices to avoid Trump’s executive orders. Major media companies such as ABC and CBS, she said, chose to settle lawsuits from Trump instead of fighting them in court.
“These are institutions that once stood strong but now kneel before a tyrant,” Harris said.
She gave one example of resistance that she praised the public push that brought late-night host Jimmy Kimmel back on air. ABC had suspended Kimmel after he criticized Trump over his handling of Kirk’s killing. The move came after a regulator tied to Trump threatened ABC’s broadcast licenses.
Trump explodes at Harris over ‘closest election’ remark — calls her ‘dumb as a rock
Protests and boycotts soon followed, with many Americans canceling subscriptions to Disney, ABC’s parent company. After six days, ABC reinstated Kimmel. By Friday, two companies owning most ABC affiliates agreed to broadcast his show again, completing his return. Harris called this a win for free speech and for citizens who stood up to political power.
“When a president with a fragile ego couldn’t take a joke and tried to silence a voice, the people spoke with their pocketbooks. And Jimmy Kimmel is now back,” she said.
Harris urges political fight ahead
Harris also turned her focus to Congress. She argued that too many lawmakers were “bending the knee” instead of serving as a check on Trump’s power. She said this shows why Democrats must win the 2026 midterm elections to hold him accountable during the second half of his presidency.
Calling Trump “unchecked, incompetent, unhinged,” she urged the audience to back leaders who are not afraid to stand firm. “We must fight fire with fire,” she told the caucus.
Harris’s remarks also recalled her past campaigns. As Joe Biden’s running mate, she helped defeat Trump in 2020. But in 2024, after Biden dropped out following a poor debate, Harris became the Democratic nominee. She eventually lost to Trump, setting up his return to the White House in January 2025.
In recent interviews, Harris has said she is not focused on another presidential run in 2028 and has already ruled out running for California governor in 2026. But her speech showed she still plays a strong role in Democratic politics, especially among voters who want Trump challenged more aggressively.
