Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what critics called another “word salad” speech during a  February 2025 weekend Broadway appearance, continuing a pattern of meandering public statements that marked her vice presidency and recent campaign.

Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, attended two Broadway productions: “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical” and “Gypsy.” While initially receiving a standing ovation, her post-show address to the cast prompted widespread online criticism 

In her speech to the cast, Harris said: “When we think about these moments where we see things that are being taken, but also let’s see it, you know, nature abhors a vacuum. Where there’s a vacancy, let’s fill it. Let us know that the reality is that the progress of our nation has been about the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights.” She continued, “We’re seeing a U-turn right now. For those rights to be maintained which means we have to be vigilant. It’s just the nature of it.” 

Social media had a field day with Harris’s Broadway speech, with critics piling on colorfully. One person joked that her appearance on the stage inevitably came with a serving of her signature “word salad,” sarcastically calling it a reminder of what the country managed to avoid in the White House. Another couldn’t get over the enthusiastic response from the crowd, saying the only thing worse than trying to decipher her meandering remarks was watching people around her nodding and clapping as she had just delivered the Gettysburg Address. 

A different critic questioned how anyone in the audience wasn’t rolling their eyes, comparing her speech to an extended game of Mad Libs gone horribly wrong. One particularly brutal commentator likened her to that one tipsy aunt at family gatherings who rambles on while everyone else politely humors her—except, in this case, her entourage was getting paid to do it.

The Broadway appearance followed a similar pattern from her recent visit to the Los Angeles Fire Department, where she addressed the significance of community during times of crisis. She stated, “These are folks who understand the strength and the value of community, which is everyone coming together with a shared sense of purpose and identity as a community of people.”

During her vice presidency, Harris became known for similar speaking patterns. In a speech about space exploration, she said: “Space is exciting. It spurs our imagination, and it forces us to ask big questions. Space, it affects us all – and it connects us all.” At a press conference in Paris, France, in November 2021, she stated: “We must together, work together, to see where we are, where we’ve been, and where we need to go, where we’re headed.” 

The 60-year-old former vice president, who lost her presidential bid to Donald Trump after replacing former President Joe Biden on the ticket, faces several potential career paths. Sources indicate she is considering a book deal that could be “the biggest book deal of any vice president in history.” The memoir would allow Harris to address her campaign experience and reach a broader audience.

Political analysts have outlined six potential paths for Harris: another presidential run in 2028, seeking a governorship or Senate seat, entering the private sector, pursuing philanthropic work, joining a think tank, or remaining active in Democratic Party politics.

The timing of Harris’s next move could be crucial. Reports suggest she needs to decide about potential political campaigns by summer if she intends to run for office again.

Some advisers suggest a California gubernatorial run in 2026 might offer an easier victory path than another presidential campaign as current Governor Gavin Newsom reaches his term limit. However, other advisers view this as potentially limiting her national political prospects.

After her recent election loss, Harris marked the end of her historic term as the first woman elected vice president by signing the ceremonial desk drawer. Despite the defeat, she stated she would not “go quietly into the night” and continues making public appearances.