Harris returns to national stage praising Trump opponents’ courage

SAN FRANCISCO: Former US Vice President Kamala Harris called on Thursday for Americans to stand up together against US President Donald Trump and what she called “the greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history”.

Harris made the remarks in her biggest speech since leaving office, marking something of a political re-emergence for the Democratic presidential candidate since she lost the election to Trump last year. She is seen as a strong candidate for California governor next year, if she runs, and could be a presidential contender again.

Speaking on Trump’s 100th day in office, Harris said the tariffs that have been the hallmarks of Trump’s economic policy were “clearly inviting a recession”. She said Trump’s politics benefited the rich and described his “narrow, self-serving vision”, where they “punish truth tellers, favor loyalists, cash in on their power, and leave everyone else to fend for themselves”.

She made the speech to a hometown crowd in the San Francisco Bay Area at an event hosted by Emerge America. The organisation works to elect Democratic women to office and started after Harris’ first run for office in San Francisco. In a tumultuous start to his second term, Trump has signed 142 executive orders, more than any recent president.