Kamala Harris Slams Business Leaders Over Trump Response
Harris Sounds Alarm on Democracy, urges Business Leaders to Stand Up to Trump
In her first major televised interview since leaving office, former Vice President Kamala harris didn’t mince words, delivering a sharp critique of President Donald Trump and calling out business leaders for their silence in the face of what she described as a threat to democracy. The interview, a wide-ranging conversation with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, also touched on harris’s new book, “107 Days,” and her reflections on former President Biden’s decision to run for a second term.
Harris expressed disappointment in the “titans of industry,” saying she had always believed they would act as a bulwark against threats to democratic institutions. “One-by-one-by-one, they have been silent…I’d use the word feckless,” she stated, emphasizing that their silence wasn’t a matter of personal sacrifice. “It’s not like they’re going to lose their yacht or their house in the Hamptons.”
The former Vice President warned that the silence of these leaders is not only disappointing but perilous. ”Democracy sustains capitalism,” she asserted, adding, “Right now we are dealing with…a tyrant.” She drew a stark comparison to the past, saying, “The U.S. used to compare the strength of our democracy to communist dictators…That’s what we’re dealing with right now in Donald Trump,and these titans of industry are not speaking up.”
Harris suggested that the silence might stem from fear of retribution. “perhaps because of [Trump’s] threats and the way he has used the federal government to take out vengeance on his critics,” she speculated. She also acknowledged the possibility that business leaders might be prioritizing their own interests, such as securing merger approvals or avoiding federal investigations. However, she stressed that “at some point, they’ve got to stand up for the sake of the people who rely on all of these institutions.”
Reflecting on Biden’s Decision
The interview also delved into Harris’s new book, “107 Days,” where she describes former President Biden’s decision to run for a second term as “reckless.” When asked about this, Harris explained, “So when I write this, it’s because I’ve realized that I have and had a certain responsibility that I should have followed through on…and so when I talk about the recklessness as much as anything, I’m talking about myself. There was so