Former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the political stage on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to critique President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. Her speech included an unexpected reference to elephants that surprised many in attendance.
Speaking at Emerge’s 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco, California, Harris depicted a dire scenario under Trump’s leadership and called for unity among progressives. This was her first significant public appearance since losing the election last November.
One notable moment in her speech was when Harris referenced a viral video showing elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park during an earthquake in Southern California on April 14.
“OK, it’s kind of dark in here, but I’m asking for a show of hands — who saw that video from a couple of weeks ago, the one of the elephants at the San Diego Zoo during the earthquake? Google it if you’ve not seen it,” Harris said with a laugh, before explaining the symbolism she found in the animals’ behavior.
Harris described how the elephants formed an “alert circle” to protect their young when the ground trembled, drawing a parallel to how she believes Democrats should respond to the Trump administration’s policies.
The video Harris referenced shows five African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park forming a protective circle around their calves during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on April 14. Zoologists noted that the adult elephants quickly encircled the two seven-year-old calves, Zuli and Mkhaya, forming an instinctive protective formation.
The former vice president suggested that those “who try to incite fear are most effective when they divide and conquer, when they separate the herd, when they try to make everyone think they are alone.”
This digression occurred during a policy-focused speech in which Harris characterized Trump’s economic agenda as creating “the greatest manmade economic crisis in modern presidential history.”
The speech, delivered at the Palace Hotel to supporters of an organization that trains Democratic women to run for office, sharply criticized Trump’s economic policies, particularly his tariffs.
Harris argued that Americans across the political spectrum have voiced opposition to the president’s tariff policies, which she said increase the costs of everyday essentials, harm retirement accounts, and negatively impact American businesses both large and small.
In addition to economic concerns, the former vice president warned of a potential constitutional crisis if checks and balances continue to erode.
She also criticized the administration’s approach to higher education, describing efforts to address campus protests as “unconstitutional demands that threaten the pursuit of truth and academic independence.”
Harris specifically mentioned concerns about due process in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose deportation to El Salvador in March has drawn significant attention.
Throughout her address, Harris praised Democratic leaders who have been vocal in their opposition to Trump’s policies, specifically naming Senators Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy, and Representatives Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Bernie Sanders.
Since her election loss to Trump last November, Harris has remained relatively out of the public eye, prompting speculation about her plans, including running for California governor in 2026, another presidential bid in 2028, or leaving electoral politics altogether.
The former vice president did not reveal her political plans during the speech; instead, she focused on rallying fellow Democrats. “I am not here tonight to offer all the answers, but I am here to say this: Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” she told the audience.
