20th Anniversary of Emerge America
Seen as a Stage for Political Comeback
Former Vice President Kamala Harris sharply criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of "discarding the ideals of America on a massive scale." This marks the first time Harris, who had remained silent after her defeat in last year's U.S. presidential election, has directly targeted the new administration since Trump took office. Some interpret this as Harris warming up for a return to political activity.
According to AP and Bloomberg on April 30 (local time), former Vice President Harris delivered these remarks in a speech at the 20th anniversary celebration of Emerge America, a Democratic organization dedicated to fostering women politicians, held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California.
Harris warned that the Trump administration's "reckless" tariff policies would "clearly lead to a recession," stating that the country is facing "the largest artificial economic crisis in modern presidential history." She also emphasized that the Trump administration's policies should not be dismissed as mere confusion, but rather defined them as "rapidly implementing an agenda that has been prepared for decades." Harris strongly criticized the administration's approach, describing it as "a narrow, self-serving vision for America that punishes truth-tellers, rewards followers, uses power to make money, and leaves everyone else behind."
As a solution to counter President Trump, Harris proposed "courage." She said, "They are relying on the idea that if they intimidate someone, it will have a chilling effect on everyone else. But they are overlooking the fact that not only fear is contagious; courage is contagious too." She went on to encourage the audience, saying, "The one check, the one balance, the one power we must not lose is the voice of the people."
Harris's public criticism of President Trump in her first speech since the new administration took office is being interpreted as a signal of her return to politics. As the Democratic Party, now a minority in Congress, struggles to curb President Trump's dominance, there has been ongoing speculation that Harris could become a unifying force. In particular, there is growing attention to the possibility that she may run in next year's California gubernatorial election. Current Governor Gavin Newsom is set to step down due to the three-term limit. Bloomberg analyzed, "The governorship of California, the most populous state, could serve as a powerful platform to challenge President Trump, but it could also be an obstacle to a presidential run in 2028."
AP reported that the event attended by Harris had the character of a "political homecoming." Harris, a native of San Francisco, began her political career there, and Emerge America, where she spoke, grew in prominence in the early 2000s around her campaign for California Attorney General. AP commented, "Harris chose a familiar venue and a friendly audience as the stage for her return to politics."
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