Harris draws social media scorn for digression about elephants during an earthquake

Fox News - May 1st, 2025
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her first public address since losing the 2024 election, urging Democrats to emulate the unity of elephants during a crisis. Speaking at Emerge's 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco, she criticized President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Harris referenced a viral video of elephants forming a protective circle during an earthquake, using it as a metaphor for Democrats to stand together and protect the vulnerable in challenging times. Her speech, while intended to inspire unity, drew mixed reactions on social media, with some users finding the analogy awkward.

The event was organized by Emerge, a group focused on preparing Democratic women for political office, and it marked Harris's return to the public stage. Despite speculation, Harris did not address rumors of a potential gubernatorial run in California. The speech highlighted broader themes of resilience and solidarity among Democrats as they navigate the early days of Trump's presidency. The gala, which charged varying fees for virtual attendance, served as both a platform for Harris's message and a fundraising opportunity for the organization.

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RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and generally accurate account of Kamala Harris's recent speech, effectively conveying the key points and the metaphor she used. It captures the public interest by focusing on a prominent political figure and addressing themes of unity and political leadership. However, the article's balance is somewhat compromised by its emphasis on negative social media reactions, which may not fully represent the broader public sentiment. While the article is clear and readable, it could benefit from greater transparency in sourcing and a more balanced presentation of perspectives. Overall, the article succeeds in engaging readers interested in political developments but could enhance its impact by providing a more comprehensive view of the speech's reception and significance.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story accurately reports that Kamala Harris used an elephant metaphor during her speech, a fact corroborated by multiple sources such as NBC San Diego and Sky News. The story's claim about Harris's speech being her first public address since the 2024 election is also verified by other reports. However, the article's description of the speech as 'angry and negative' is more subjective and not universally echoed by other sources, which describe it as a 'stern rebuke.' Additionally, while the story mentions social media reactions, it selectively highlights negative comments, which may not fully represent the broader public's perception.

6
Balance

The article presents a somewhat imbalanced view by focusing on the negative reception of Harris's speech, particularly through social media reactions. It highlights specific critical tweets, which may skew the reader's perception of the overall response. The piece could benefit from including a broader range of perspectives, such as positive or neutral reactions, to provide a more balanced account. Furthermore, the emphasis on the 'awkward' nature of her metaphor could suggest a bias against Harris, as the metaphor was intended to convey a message of unity.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, making it easy to follow. It provides a straightforward account of Harris's speech and the metaphor she used. However, the tone occasionally shifts towards being critical, particularly in its portrayal of social media reactions, which could affect the reader's understanding of the overall context. The article could improve clarity by maintaining a more neutral tone and providing a balanced presentation of perspectives.

7
Source quality

The article relies on its own reporting and includes a byline, which adds credibility. However, it does not directly cite external sources or provide hyperlinks to verify claims, which would enhance its reliability. The use of social media as a source for public reaction is common, but it lacks the depth and authority of expert analysis or broader public opinion surveys. The article would benefit from citing additional authoritative sources to support its claims about the speech's reception and content.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its sourcing and methodology. It does not clearly explain how it selected the social media comments it highlights, nor does it provide context for the broader public reception of Harris's speech. Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might affect its reporting. Greater transparency about the selection of quotes and the context of the speech would improve the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the reliability of its claims.

Sources

  1. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/kamala-harris-mentions-san-diego-elephants-video-in-speech/3815795/
  2. https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/united-states/kamala-harris-bizarrely-references-viral-elephant-video-in-speech-attacking-donald-trumps-vision-for-america-after-first-100-days-google-it/news-story/3f3072ab2a7ebc607cc717d1647f90b5
  3. https://www.factcheck.org/2024/07/factchecking-vice-president-kamala-harris/
  4. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/kamala-harris-mentions-san-diego-elephants-video/3815809/
  5. https://www.politifact.com/article/2024/aug/22/harris-fact-check-2024-dnc/