Former Vice President Kamala Harris reemerged in the political arena on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, delivering a pointed critique of President Donald Trump’s initial 100 days in office. Her address included an unexpected metaphor involving elephants that surprised attendees.
At Emerge’s 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco, California, Harris depicted a stark image of the nation under Trump’s leadership and called for unity among progressives. This event was her first significant public speech since last November’s electoral loss.
During her speech, Harris referenced a viral video of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park during an earthquake in Southern California on April 14, drawing a memorable connection.
“OK, it’s kind of dark in here, but I’m asking for a show of hands — who saw that video from a couple of weeks ago, the one of the elephants at the San Diego Zoo during the earthquake? Google it if you’ve not seen it,” Harris said with a laugh, before explaining the symbolism she found in the animals’ behavior.
Harris explained how the elephants formed an “alert circle” to protect their young in response to the tremor, drawing parallels to what she believes Democrats should do against Trump’s policies.
The referenced video shows five African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park forming a protective circle around two seven-year-old calves, Zuli and Mkhaya, during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on April 14. Experts noted the adult elephants’ instinctive protective formation.
The former vice president suggested that those “who try to incite fear are most effective when they divide and conquer, when they separate the herd, when they try to make everyone think they are alone.”
This digression occurred amid a policy-focused speech in which Harris characterized Trump’s economic agenda as causing “the greatest manmade economic crisis in modern presidential history.”
Speaking at the Palace Hotel to an audience supporting an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women for office, Harris criticized Trump’s economic policies, especially his tariffs.
Harris argued that Americans across the political spectrum were condemning the president’s tariff policies, which she said raised costs for everyday essentials, hurt retirement accounts, and damaged American businesses large and small.
In addition to economic issues, the former vice president warned of a potential constitutional crisis if checks and balances continue to deteriorate.
She also criticized the administration’s approach to higher education, calling efforts to address campus protests “unconstitutional demands that threaten the pursuit of truth and academic independence.”
Harris specifically raised concerns about due process in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose deportation to El Salvador in March has attracted significant concern and scrutiny.
Throughout her address, Harris praised Democratic leaders who have opposed Trump’s policies, naming Senators Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy, and Bernie Sanders, and Representatives Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Since losing the election to Trump last November, Harris has kept a low profile, with few public appearances. There is speculation about her future, which could involve a run for California governor in 2026, another presidential bid in 2028, or even leaving electoral politics.
The former vice president did not disclose her political plans during the speech, instead focusing on motivating fellow Democrats. “I am not here tonight to offer all the answers, but I am here to say this: Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” she told the audience.
