In her most extensive public appearance since leaving office, former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a forceful critique of President Donald Trump’s administration during a speech in San Francisco on Wednesday, warning that the country is at risk of a “constitutional crisis.”
Speaking at the 20th anniversary gala of Emerge America—a political organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office—Harris broke her relative silence since her 2024 election defeat. She took direct aim at Trump’s leadership, economic policies, and the shrinking role of the federal government under his second term, now 101 days in.
“Instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals,” Harris said. “We are living in a moment when the checks and balances upon which we have historically relied have buckled.”
She warned that if Congress and the courts fail to act as institutional guardrails—and if President Trump continues to disregard them—the nation could face “a constitutional crisis.”
Harris, a native of Oakland, spoke candidly to the crowd, offering a rallying cry to Democrats. “I’m not here tonight to offer all the answers,” she said. “But I am here to say this: you are not alone, and we are in this together. And straight talk—things are probably going to get worse before they get better. But we are ready. We will not scatter. We will stand united. Everyone is a leader.”
The former vice president’s speech comes as she reemerges on the national stage while Democrats search for a path forward after significant 2024 losses, including losing both the White House and Congress to Republicans. Harris, a former U.S. senator and California attorney general, remains a central figure in Democratic politics and is widely viewed as a potential candidate for either the California governorship in 2026 or another presidential bid.
While she has not declared her intentions, Harris continues to actively fundraise through the Harris Victory Fund—a joint effort between her political organization, the Democratic National Committee, and several state parties. The committee reported having $4.5 million in cash on hand at the end of March.
In recent fundraising messages, Harris has been direct about the urgency of Democratic unity, calling on supporters to “organize and stop Trump’s agenda while electing Democrats everywhere.”
“There has never been a more important time for a strong Democratic Party—one that is willing to stand up to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and what they are doing to this country,” she wrote.
Wednesday’s speech was also a personal homecoming for Harris, who now resides in Los Angeles but grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. While she did not address her political future directly, her reentry into the spotlight has reignited speculation about her next move—whether it’s Sacramento, Washington, or beyond.