Fox News Begins Blitz Against Kamala Harris

Critics’ knives are out for Kamala Harris now that she’s become the Democrats’ presidential front-runner in the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from the electoral race.

The outgoing president, who on Sunday announced his decision to stand aside when his current term ends, has officially endorsed his vice president as his replacement at the top of the ticket. It is not, however, his decision to make; there will be a vote at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

Although there are potential challengers from within the party, most of the big beasts, such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, have backed Harris. Consequently, Republicans under the banner of their nominee Donald Trump have shifted their campaign’s energies to the likely looming battle, while some sections of the media, such as Fox News, have also turned their focus toward Harris.

The presidential election is scheduled for November 5, and 81-year-old Biden had been set to stand against former President Trump, 78, as the two men fought a bitterly contested race to win a second term in the White House.

Trump has had to contend with being convicted of criminal charges and an assassination attempt, while Biden tried and ultimately failed to allay fears about his health, memory lapses, and PR disasters, such as his poor performance in a televised debate.

Fox News show Hannity, hosted by presenter Sean Hannity, aired a special edition on Sunday night after the news broke about Biden’s departure from the race. Reacting to the developments and the president’s endorsement of Harris, the TV host said: “Democracy is dead in the Democratic Party.” He described the events as an “elitist coup” and said it could be dubbed “Operation Dump and Destroy Biden.”

But he also slammed those who had been working closely with Biden for not acting sooner, saying: “Perhaps no one was more duplicitous than Vice President Kamala Harris.” He then aired a series of clips showing Harris at Biden’s side as the president appeared confused or misspoke at events.

“Tonight, every American needs to be asking: ‘What did Kamala know about his cognitive state? When did she know it? …Why did she and every Democrat lie about Joe’s cognitive decline?'”

Hannity also attacked Harris’ policies, saying: “If she becomes the nominee, she will be the single most radical major party candidate to run for election. Even more radical than [former President Barack] Obama and that’s saying something.” He said the vice president had called for an end to fracking and a ban on plastic straws and hadn’t “lifted a finger” to secure the border.

He then went on to play clips of her laughing, with the caption, “Kamala’s awkward laugh turns off voters.” Introducing the lighthearted clips, he said: “Here’s just one reason voters seem to detest Kamala Harris. You decide.” It was unclear why footage of a woman laughing on occasion might make her unfit for public office.

The clip was subsequently shared by on X (formerly Twitter) by a digital editor working for news agency MeidasTouch.com, where it was met with bafflement from the viewers. Many were surprised that laughter was deemed worthy of vitriol. One X user wrote of Hannity: “That’s the best he’s got, on the first day of her announcement? That means he’s got nothing. She’s loved, and he just doesn’t get it man.”

Newsweek has reached out by email to Harris and Fox News seeking comment.

Hannity also spoke with guest Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former campaign manager, who blasted Harris as well. “She does not speak well. She does not work hard. She does not inspire anyone. And she should not be the standard-bearer for the party,” Conway said.

The clip was also posted on X and some commentators were surprised that Conway seemed so concerned since if all that were true, then the election would presumably be easier for Republicans to win now. “If she’s all that bad, why would Republicans not want her to run?” one asked.

Fox News’ Will Cain and Pete Hegseth hosted a segment on Off the Wall entitled “What would a Kamala Harris presidency look like?” on FOX & Friends Weekend. The pair aired a string of clips showing Harris laughing or stumbling over her words in some situations.

They claimed she had been on the “far left side” at times in the Senate, noted that she supported the right for women to access abortion, and alleged that she had abandoned her previous tough-on-crime stance.

Cain concluded: “It would be a centerpiece for any presidential campaign for Kamala Harris; it would be based upon identity politics of women and, of course, Black women. And it’s already being said: If you jump over a Black woman, you are courting trouble, Democrats.”

One political strategist told Reuters that she feared racism and sexism could affect Harris’ bid for the White House. American voters have only elected one Black president and have never elected a woman, meaning Harris is facing a tough glass ceiling at the top of U.S. politics. “Will her race and gender be an issue? Absolutely,” said LaTosha Brown, a political strategist and co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund.