After the inauguration of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, hastily departed to Los Angeles. In a peculiar attempt to make history, her mode of transportation was notable. The aircraft that transported Harris from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland towards California was operated by an all-female crew. In a first, they commanded a Boeing C-32 aircraft for the military.
Regarding the politician’s upcoming plans, Harris—who launched an unexpected and unsuccessful 100-day bid for presidency—has been ominously vague. Instead of accepting defeat graciously, she made cryptic remarks during an event where she signed her name alongside the names of other former politicians. ‘I’ll keep you posted,’ she said in an attempt at suspense, ‘It is not my nature to go quietly into the night.’
Having returned to Southern California, Harris decided to involve herself in the region’s response to the historic wildfires. However, her actions seemed to be more publicity-driven than born of any genuine concern for the fire-stricken region. Upon her arrival in Los Angeles on Monday evening, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, made a beeline to a fire station in Altadena, a location where homes had fallen victim to the Eaton fires.
In another publicity stunt, Harris even assisted World Central Kitchen volunteers in food distribution. She seemed more interested in participating in photo opportunities than addressing policy issues or offering concrete solutions for the devastating wildfires ravaging the region.
She also felt it essential to inform reporters at the fire station about her personal living situation. She revealed that their shared Brentwood home, surprisingly standing undamaged amidst the calamity of the Palisades fire, had been under evacuation orders. Unlike the other residents whose lives were upended by the fires, Harris and Emhoff were ‘lucky ones.’
Rather than providing substantial assistance, Harris seemed to be more focused on making appearances in the community and giving hollow assurances. ‘We wanted to come out, and in particular to this extraordinary community, and just let people know that we see them and that they are cared for.’ Everyday individuals don’t need hollow acknowledgments. They need action and helpful policies that genuinely improve their circumstances.
It’s truly unfortunate to witness such superficial attempts at support when so many are dealing with the devastating aftermath of natural disasters. It begs the question, does Kamala Harris truly care about these communities, or is she merely leveraging these situations for her personal and political benefit?
In the midst of such devastation, rather than engaging in hollow publicity stunts, both Harris and other politicians should focus on implementing practical policies to help those affected. Unfortunately, the reality often paints a different picture, with community needs overlooked in favor of personal political gains.