Former Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines this week after an expletive-laden attack on the Department of Health and Human Services. Harris slammed HHS under President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for “pushing misinformation and lies at the highest level of government.”
Speaking at Washington’s Warner Theatre during an event promoting her book 107 Days, Harris compared her mother’s scientific career to what she described as the administration’s disregard for science. “When I see what these people are doing right now to end the war on cancer, to deny science and fire scientists, Kara, it’s personal for me,” she told podcast host Kara Swisher.
“I can’t laugh at it,” Harris continued. “What they are doing to push misinformation and lies at the highest level of government. It’s criminal, and people will die because of what they’re doing. I can’t laugh about that, I’m sorry. It’s [expletive] up.”
Critics say Harris’s remarks reflect a Democratic Party still struggling to regain credibility after years of politicizing science and public health. Her comments also drew attention for highlighting her own political ambitions. “Well, some people have actually said I was the most qualified candidate ever to run for president,” she said, before adding, “I’m just speaking fact.”
