In her first public appearance since losing the 2024 election, former Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage at the Emerge 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco with a mix of impassioned warnings about the Trump administration and… a head-scratching digression about elephants.
Yes, elephants.
Speaking to a crowd of Democratic activists and supporters, Harris delivered what was billed as a battle cry against President Trump’s return to the White House. But it was a moment of improvised metaphor that had social media—and even some attendees—scratching their heads.
“Okay, it’s kind of dark in here, but I am going to ask for a show of hands,” Harris said. “Who saw that video from a couple of weeks ago? The one of the elephants at the San Diego Zoo during the earthquake.”
She continued, explaining how the elephants grouped together to protect the vulnerable during the tremor, urging Democrats to emulate the animals’ instinct for unity under pressure.
“What a powerful metaphor,” she declared. “In the face of crisis, the lesson is: don’t scatter. The instinct has to be to immediately find and connect with each other… the circle will be stronger.”
To say the metaphor landed awkwardly would be an understatement. Social media lit up with critiques ranging from bemused to brutal.
One user quipped, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”—channeling a famous quote often misattributed to Mark Twain. Others compared the story to her now-infamous “we were together in a bus” speeches and called it another example of Harris’s signature style: earnest, meandering, and often off-key.
Kamala Harris talks about elephants at the San Diego Zoo during an earthquake.
No one has any idea what she’s talking about.
It’s just an awkward silence.pic.twitter.com/w5IrjzH9QE
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 1, 2025
The issue wasn’t just the odd metaphor—it was the context. Harris was attempting to rally support during what she described as a dark time for the country, referencing President Trump’s first 100 days back in office with sharp criticism. But instead of a focused critique or a clear call to action, the zoo video anecdote diverted the spotlight—and not in a way her team likely intended.
Notably, Harris did not address speculation that she may be eyeing a run for Governor of California, nor did she offer a forward-looking message about her political future. Instead, the speech leaned heavily on defensiveness and emotional appeals, with the elephant metaphor seemingly meant to evoke solidarity in the face of political persecution.
Is she drunk? pic.twitter.com/ZtCcGaJjFf
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) May 1, 2025
Emerge, the organization hosting the event, is known for training Democratic women to run for office. Tickets for the gala livestream ranged from $25 to $250, underscoring the event’s dual role as a fundraiser and platform for future campaigners.
