Former Vice President Kamala Harris raised eyebrows Wednesday night after urging Democrats to “act like elephants” during a puzzling detour in her speech. Harris delivered her first public remarks since losing the 2024 election, speaking at Emerge’s 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco. Her tone was angry, focusing on what she described as President Donald Trump’s chaotic first 100 days.
“Please allow me, friends, to digress for a moment,” Harris said. “Okay, it's kind of dark in here, but I am going to ask for a show of hands. Who saw that video from a couple of weeks ago? The one of the elephants at the San Diego Zoo during the earthquake.”
She described how the elephants grouped together during the quake. “Here those elephants were, and as soon as they felt the earth shaking beneath their feet, they got in a circle and stood next to each other to protect the most vulnerable. Think about it. What a powerful metaphor,” she told the crowd.
Harris used the moment to launch into a broader political point. “Because we know those who try to incite fear are most effective when they divide and conquer,” she said. “When they separate the herd, when they try to make everyone think they are alone.” Her message was unity in the face of crisis.
“The instinct has to be to immediately find and connect with each other, and to know that the circle will be stronger,” she said. But many online found the comparison strange. Critics on social media mocked the elephant story as awkward and out of place.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt," one user posted, referencing the old saying. The remark echoed dozens of similar comments ridiculing Harris’s metaphor. The video quickly circulated on X.
Notably, Harris did not address speculation about a future run for governor of California. That question has been swirling since her loss last November. Her appearance Wednesday only added to the intrigue.
Emerge, the group hosting the event, is known for training Democratic women to run for office. Tickets ranged from $25 for livestream access to $250 for general admission. A special “young professional” tier was priced at $100.
Harris’s speech was meant to rally Democrats, but the elephant anecdote stole the spotlight. Supporters called it heartfelt. Detractors called it weird. Either way, it’s what people remembered.