Former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke candidly about the current Trump administration during the Leading Women Defined Summit in Dana Point, California, on Thursday, acknowledging that many of her campaign warnings have materialized but insisting she wasn’t there to gloat.
“There were many things we knew were gonna happen,” said Harris, who stepped in to run against Trump in 2024 after then-President Biden withdrew from the race. “I’m not gonna say ‘I told you so,'” she added, prompting enthusiastic applause and cheers from attendees.
The summit, founded by former BET CEO Debra Lee, focuses on empowering women of color and provided a platform for Harris to address the political landscape less than 100 days into Trump’s second term.
Harris observed significant changes since 2016, noting that under the current administration, “progress and policies have been rolled back” and “effective policies have been denied,” while a pervasive “sense of fear” has spread throughout the country.
“We are seeing people stay quiet. We are seeing organizations stay quiet. We are seeing capitulating to clearly unconstitutional threats,” Harris continued, expressing concern over the chilling effect on public discourse and civic engagement.
Her remarks come as President Trump has moved aggressively to dismantle Biden-era policies through executive action. According to White House fact sheets and multiple news reports, Trump has rescinded nearly 80 of Biden’s executive orders on his first day in office, with an additional 19 executive actions revoked in March alone.
The targeted policies span a wide range of issues, including those related to what the current administration describes as “radical gender ideology,” climate initiatives labeled as “Green New Deal” policies, union-focused labor practices, and biotechnology programs from the previous administration.
Beyond executive orders, Trump has called for eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, approved layoffs affecting thousands of federal employees, and implemented wide-ranging global tariffs that economic analysts note have negatively impacted the stock market.
The scope and pace of these changes represent an unprecedented use of executive authority. According to CBS News, Trump has issued a record 100 executive orders within his first 100 days in office, surpassing the number issued by previous presidents during similar timeframes.
These executive actions have targeted multiple policy areas, including efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, reshape trade policies, deregulate fossil fuel industries, and implement more restrictive immigration measures. However, some orders, such as those aimed at ending birthright citizenship and freezing foreign aid, have faced legal challenges and been temporarily halted by judges.
The swift policy reversals align with statements Trump made during his campaign. According to multiple sources, he had promised to “undo almost everything Biden did” through executive orders, with many changes implemented on his first day back in office.
For Harris, who had warned about these potential outcomes during her presidential campaign, the current political climate presents both challenges and opportunities. During the 2024 campaign, she had specifically cautioned voters about Trump’s policies as outlined in Project 2025, warning they would reverse progress, increase consumer prices, and lead to the elimination of the Department of Education, along with significant cuts to Medicaid.
Rather than focusing on vindication, however, Harris urged summit attendees to exercise their “great power” to lead the nation with courage instead of fear. She emphasized that people around the world are watching and counting on them to be “kind, fierce, and united” in response to current challenges.
The former vice president’s remarks come at a time when Democrats appear to be regaining some momentum. The victory of Judge Susan Crawford in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election has been viewed as a positive sign for the party, particularly as it occurred despite significant financial backing for Crawford’s opponent from high-profile Trump supporter Elon Musk.
As the Trump administration continues implementing its agenda, Harris’s warnings about the potential consequences of a second Trump term have become a focal point for Democrats seeking to rally opposition to the current administration’s policies while building toward future electoral contests.
