Former Vice President Kamala Harris sparked widespread backlash and ridicule after commemorating the one-year anniversary of her failed 2024 presidential campaign on social media, Fox News reports. In a post that many critics called tone-deaf and self-congratulatory, Harris shared photos and reflections on her brief, 107-day campaign, praising the opportunity to meet Americans and “fight for our democracy.”
“One year ago today, I began my campaign for President of the United States,” Harris wrote. “Over the 107 days of our race, I had the opportunity and honor to travel our nation and meet with Americans who were fighting for a better future. And today, millions of Americans continue to stand up for our values, our ideals, and our democracy. Their courage and resolve inspires me. Whether you are attending a protest, calling your representatives, or building community, I want to say: Thank you. We are in this fight together.”
Notably absent from her post was any mention of former President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race one year ago and endorsed Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.
Some social media users quickly responded to the post questioning the legitimacy of Harris’s nomination, pointing out that she secured the Democratic slot not through primaries, but by default, after Biden’s departure. Her celebratory post failed to acknowledge this unusual path to the top of the ticket or the lack of enthusiasm that followed. Instead, it appeared as an attempt to rewrite the narrative of a campaign widely regarded as both disorganized and directionless.
Critics accused Harris of trying to distance herself from the deeply unpopular Biden administration, despite having served as his vice president and key policy surrogate. Her sudden self-congratulation, they argued, rang hollow, especially given her campaign’s lack of grassroots support during the primaries and its eventual defeat to President Donald Trump in the general election.
Boosting criticism were the reports of the Harris campaign’s lavish spending habits. FEC filings showed over $1 billion spent in just three months — a staggering amount that went largely to celebrity endorsements, activist organizations, and private jet travel. Many commentators viewed these expenses as emblematic of a candidate more focused on style than substance, and more interested in appealing to elite donors than to everyday voters.
Criticizing Harris’ cheap attempt to win over voters with celebrity-packed events and appearances, author John Hawkins mocked Harris writing, “’One year ago today, I began my campaign for President of the United States.’ Oh wow, I remember that. What did Drew Barrymore call you? Momala? Oooh, and Beyonce endorsed you, right? How did you work out? Did you win?”
In the end, Harris’s ill-fated run — and her attempt to commemorate it — may have done more to highlight the apparent disconnect between Democratic leadership and voters than to inspire confidence in her future political prospects.