A CNN panel discussion became contentious on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, when businessman and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary labeled former Vice President Kamala Harris a “loser” following her loss in the 2024 presidential election.
The exchange took place during CNN’s NewsNight as panelists analyzed the Democratic Party’s approach after President Joe Biden exited the 2024 race. O’Leary criticized the Democrats for not holding a traditional primary and selecting Harris as their candidate after Biden’s withdrawal post-debate against Donald Trump.
“They did not run a process. They picked a loser, and she lost, and she got slaughtered because they didn’t run a process,” O’Leary told the panel.
The comment prompted immediate responses from fellow panelists, including CNN political commentators Bakari Sellers, Karen Finney, and podcast host Van Lathan, who defended Harris and opposed O’Leary’s description.
Lathan interrupted, calling for respect for Harris, while Finney argued that calling the former vice president a “loser” was disrespectful. Both commentators appeared visibly unsettled by O’Leary’s remarks.
The discussion intensified as O’Leary stood by his statement, asserting he was stating facts rather than being disrespectful, leading to increased tensions on the set.
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings tried to steer the conversation toward former President Biden’s public absence after withdrawing from the race. Jennings questioned who was making key policy decisions during the transition, noting Biden “basically disappeared” from public view between Election Day and the inauguration.
“At that point, if he was not fit to run for office, I argued at the time he was not fit to serve in the office at the time, yet he was,” Jennings said, expressing concern about who was making “monumental policy decisions” during that period.
As the discussion heated up, Sellers defended Harris, asserting there was “nothing about Kamala Harris that’s a loser.” O’Leary reiterated his position more forcefully.
The panel devolved into crosstalk as multiple voices vied to be heard. O’Leary’s voice dominated as he repeated that Harris was “slaughtered” in the election because the Democratic Party “anointed” her without a primary process.
CNN host Abby Phillip sought to regain control by noting Harris had been duly elected as vice president in 2020 on Biden’s ticket. O’Leary countered that Harris had never been elected president and reiterated she was “anointed” without primary scrutiny.
Before the segment concluded, O’Leary criticized Harris’s communication skills, claiming she “couldn’t put two sentences together,” prompting Phillip to disagree, stating, “We know that is not true.”
The heated exchange reflects broader tensions in U.S. political discourse following the 2024 presidential election. Harris’s nomination followed Biden’s announcement not to seek reelection, a decision following speculation about his age and fitness. The Democratic Party’s quick coalescence around Harris without additional primaries has been contentious among political analysts.
The discussion on CNN began from a segment about a forthcoming book titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson. According to the book, top Harris advisor David Plouffe criticized Biden, suggesting his delayed exit hampered Harris’ campaign.
O’Leary, 70, known for blunt assessments on “Shark Tank” and media appearances, co-founded SoftKey Software Products, later renamed The Learning Company, which Mattel acquired for $4.2 billion in 1999. He first gained recognition on Canada’s “Dragons’ Den” before joining “Shark Tank” in 2009.
Nicknamed “Mr. Wonderful,” O’Leary is known for his direct style, making him a polarizing but popular television figure.
The CNN segment ended with unresolved disagreement, and the program shifted to another topic. The exchange clip circulated on social media, drawing comments from supporters of O’Leary’s assessment and those who viewed his remarks as harsh.
This incident occurs amid ongoing analysis of the 2024 election results and discussions about the Democratic Party’s future direction. Political strategists have debated whether a traditional primary process might have yielded a different outcome or better prepared the nominee for the general election against Trump.
