The launch of a political memoir often provides a platform for reflection, and Kamala Harris is using hers to deliver some stark judgments. Her new book, “107 Days,” chronicles her short-lived but intense 2024 presidential campaign, which began after Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Within its pages, Harris offers a candid account of that period, criticizing Biden’s decision to run again as “recklessness” and defining Donald Trump with the unambiguous label of a “con man.” This theme continued during a recent book talk in London, where she offered a brutally concise review of Trump’s current term.
When prompted to share her thoughts on whether the reality of Trump’s second term was more severe than she had imagined, Harris left no room for ambiguity. Her response was an immediate and emphatic “Yes.” This simple affirmation was a powerful distillation of the criticisms elaborated in her memoir and served as a springboard for discussing specific administration failures. She pointed to recent events as evidence of a dysfunctional and irresponsible White House, underscoring her deep concerns about the direction of the country.
One particular incident that drew Harris’s ire involved the reported use of the Signal messaging app by national security officials for discussing sensitive military actions. She expressed astonishment at this casual handling of classified information, suggesting it revealed a laziness and a fundamental disrespect for the gravity of their roles. Harris insisted that those in power have a duty to conduct the nation’s most sensitive business in secure environments, not on digital platforms meant for private conversation.
Despite the harsh public criticism, Harris’s book also reveals a more nuanced, personal history with Trump. She recounts moments where he offered her unexpected compliments in private, including an admission that he found it difficult to speak ill of her and a note that his daughter Ivanka was a fan. Yet, Harris is quick to frame these interactions as part of a calculated persona. She warns against being charmed, steadfastly maintaining that his congeniality is a tool of manipulation, consistent with her overall view of him as a deceiver.
Harris’s forthright opinions appear to be in sync with a growing segment of the American populace. Aggregate polling data shows that well over half of the country disapproves of Trump’s job performance, giving a statistical backbone to her criticisms. Through her memoir and her public appearances, Harris is not only recounting history but also actively participating in the current political conversation, asserting that the challenges of the present administration are even more profound than its opponents had feared.
