Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, where she openly acknowledged her fear about the consequences if Donald Trump were re-elected president. Trump has openly threatened to use the Justice Department against his political opponents, a prospect that Harris finds genuinely alarming.
“Jimmy, you’re an easy target. What does he realistically do to people like you?” Harris asked, highlighting the potential for abuse of power.
Kimmel responded, “Trump has been saying he will go after his enemies or whatever you want to call them if he is re-elected.”
Harris agreed, emphasizing that Trump’s threats should not be taken lightly. “Yes, well, he has. He has. That shouldn’t be taken as just a figure of speech. He has – I mean, he has praised dictators. And he promised on the first day that if he is elected in 2024, he said, ‘I’m going to be a dictator; that’s exactly what he said.’ And that should not be taken just as a figure of speech.”
Trump’s Legal Troubles and Family Dynamics
The conversation also touched on the recent legal issues faced by Trump. On May 30, a jury found Donald Trump liable in a civil suit related to a hush-money case, resulting in a $1 million penalty. This makes Trump the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. This distinction has reportedly created tension within the Trump family and united them around the 45th president.
According to Newsweek, “the verdict has created a tense atmosphere inside the Trump family, but also united them around the 45th president.” A family friend disclosed that it has led to a “detente between Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump. For years, there was an icy relationship between the first lady and Trump’s eldest daughter, who both vied for the same role in the White House.” So, the Trump family sticks together regardless of the Ice between them.
The tension between Melania and Ivanka Trump dates back to the beginning of Trump’s term in office. Politico says, “Ivanka envisioned many traditional First Lady duties for herself. She saw herself as an updated Jackie Kennedy, bringing grace, youth, and energy to the East Wing. Melania was not too pleased with this plan, knowing Trump’s wish that Ivanka would fill many of these duties. During Trump’s tenure in office, the two women were engaged in a silent but deadly war for the coveted spotlight. According to several sources, Melania routinely scoured social media to discover what the public and press were saying about her compared to Ivanka.”
Kimmel’s Criticism of Trump’s Statements
In her interview with Kimmel, Harris voiced her fear about Trump’s plans, and Kimmel responded by highlighting the absurdity and danger of Trump’s statements.
“At a town hall recently, Trump was asked what he’d do on his first day if he got back into office, and he said, ‘I’d be a dictator; that’s exactly what I’d do.’ And everyone was like, ‘Oh my god, what are you talking about? That’s not funny. That’s not cute. That’s not kidding. That’s terrifying.'”
Kimmel added, “If you get one day as a dictator, it will be a terrible day. This is something that people should be scared about. This is something that people should be terrified about. Trump said he would use the Justice Department as a weapon against his enemies, except this time, he’s president, and he has the nuclear codes. He has the military might of this country. He just said he would be a dictator.”
Kimmel also questioned Trump’s arguments against the justice system, pointing out the inconsistency in Trump’s claims that President Biden had weaponized the justice system. He noted that if Biden had such control, he would presumably have intervened in his son Hunter Biden’s legal troubles. Hunter Biden is currently facing felony charges related to a gun he bought in 2018. Harris agreed with Kimmel’s assessment, calling Trump’s accusations hypocritical.
Harris’ and Michelle Obama’s Concerns
On The View, Harris expressed her fears about Trump’s possible re-election. She emphasized the importance of voting and shared her concerns about the complacency within the Biden campaign. Harris highlighted the stakes of the 2024 election, urging voters to remain vigilant and proactive. She noted that former President Obama had reportedly expressed concerns that the Biden campaign was too complacent regarding Trump, and other prominent figures like Representative Jim Clyburn and Michelle Obama had voiced similar worries.
Michelle Obama, in particular, has been vocal about her fears regarding Trump’s potential return to the presidency. In an interview with Jay Shetty on the “On Purpose” podcast, she discussed the profound impact of leadership on democracy. She urged people not to take government and democracy for granted. Obama emphasized the critical role of leaders and the far-reaching effects their decisions have on everyday life. She expressed her terror at the thought of Trump’s return, stressing that the stakes could not be higher for the future of American democracy.
Ongoing Tension Between Trump and Biden
Trump’s own statements have only fueled these concerns. He implied that if re-elected, he would seek to indict President Biden a day before a court was set to hear arguments on whether presidential immunity protects him from prosecution for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump framed this as a necessary response to Biden’s supposed weaponization of the Department of Justice against him. Trump argued that if he were denied immunity, Biden should also be rejected immunity, suggesting a tit-for-tat approach to legal accountability.
The ongoing tension between Trump and Biden has been a focal point of their campaigns. In his first campaign speech for 2024, Biden criticized Trump’s self-centred campaign, highlighting the threats Trump’s leadership poses to democracy. Biden recounted the personal attacks on election workers and officials during Trump’s presidency, emphasizing the need to protect democracy from such assaults. He pointed to the harassment faced by election workers like Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss, who were targeted by Trump and his supporters, illustrating the real-world consequences of Trump’s rhetoric and actions.
Addressing these concerns, Harris stated that the Biden administration must earn re-election by highlighting their achievements and connecting with voters. She emphasized the importance of being proactive and not succumbing to fear, encouraging Americans to fight for the future they want for their children. Harris noted that she has been travelling across the country to communicate the administration’s accomplishments and to rally support for the upcoming election.
