Vice President JD Vance recently made remarks criticizing former Vice President Kamala Harris's method of handling questions, suggesting a significant contrast in their communication styles.
The Daily Caller reported that in a candid interview, Vance described needing excessive alcohol to mimic Harris's approach to answering questions.
Speaking with Daily Caller's editorial director, Vince Coglianese, Vance did not mince words when he discussed his perception of Harris's techniques in communication, which he labeled as "word salads."
This term refers to responses filled with an array of loosely connected ideas. Vance humorously commented that consuming "four shots of vodka" might be necessary for him to adopt a similar style.
Vance speculated on the dynamics within the former administration, particularly between Harris and then President Joe Biden. He suggested that a lack of trust might have been a key factor limiting Harris's empowerment and effectiveness in her role.
"I mean, look, my sense is, and this is a little bit of guesswork obviously [because] I don’t talk to Kamala Harris or Joe Biden very often, but I sense that there wasn’t a level of trust between Biden and Harris and so she was just less empowered to do her job," Vance said during the interview.
Harris has been known for her cautious approach to media, largely steering clear of interviews during her 2024 presidential campaign. Critics have often pointed to her confusing or disjointed responses as a possible reason for this strategy.
Pundits noted that when Harris did participate in media discussions, she often gave lengthy, convoluted answers to straightforward questions. This tendency was on display as early as October, before Vance's remarks.
In previous years, Harris has made several public speaking gaffes that caught the attention of the media and public. In 2022, she made a confusing statement about the "significance of the passage of time" and humorously questioned if youths thought they had "just fallen out of a coconut tree."
Known for her approachable persona, Harris once diverted to discussing her childhood memories when prompted about steps to make life more affordable during a September interview.
At the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Harris was tasked with articulating the U.S. stance and providing clarity on the situation. Her simplistic explanation was that "Russia is a powerful country" which decided to "invade a smaller country called Ukraine," summarizing the act as "basically, that’s wrong."
The former vice president also shared lighter moments, like discussing her fondness for Doritos during a supposedly serious discussion about innovation at an AI conference.
"We did DoorDash 'cause I wanted Doritos. The red carpet part was about to start, and nobody wanted to leave to go to the grocery store. So it was DoorDash... So I was willing to give up whatever might be the tracking of Kamala Harris’ particular fondness for nacho cheese Doritos for the sake of getting a big bag of Doritos as I watched the Oscars," she recounted.
Vance's comments highlight a broader critique of political communication styles and the implications of trust and empowerment within the highest levels of government. While his remarks were laced with humor, they underscore the challenges and scrutiny public figures face regarding their public persona and efficacy.