Former US Vice President Kamala Harris attracted criticism on January 13, 2025 for her confusing and ambiguous remarks during a White House briefing on the wildfires in Los Angeles, California. The fires have resulted in the loss of dozens of lives and displaced thousands of people.
“It’s critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do,” Harris stated in an attempt to counsel Californians who had lost their homes and were eagerly waiting to return to their neighborhoods. Her indirect and unclear response was swiftly met with derision online.
In a pattern that has come to characterize her time in office, Harris’ complex message to fire victims has added to the list of baffling public statements she has made. “So basically, these victims should be unburdened by what has been,” commented one social media user, humorously alluding to a previous notable verbal error made by Harris.
Harris’ puzzling remarks were made while more than 40,000 acres in Southern California were being engulfed by flames. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood was particularly hit hard after all three Los Angeles Water and Power Department water tanks ran out of water within a few hours of the fire’s start, leaving fire officials powerless to protect homes during the initial hours of the fire.
Emergency management experts and critics alike criticized her response as being inappropriate for a crisis situation where clear and direct communication can be the difference between life and death. Her remarks lacked the clarity and directness that is crucial in crisis communication, they noted.
The situation is particularly relevant for Harris, as her Brentwood residence is located within an evacuation zone. Consequently, she canceled her final foreign trip as Vice President to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany, scheduled from January 13-17, echoing President Biden’s cancellation of his planned visits to Rome and Ukraine.
With thousands of Californians under mandatory evacuation orders and fires turning homes to ash, the advice given by Harris – to “find anything that gives you an ability to be patient” – is all that remains for many residents who have lost everything. These wildfires have destroyed entire neighborhoods, leaving residents with nothing but the hope for patience.
Supporters of President Donald Trump capitalized on Harris’ latest verbal confusion, arguing that the country “dodged a bullet” in the recent election. “Yes. Be patient,” one Trump supporter had written in a tone of sarcasm, adding, “Competent leadership will be here in one week.” Another noted that “word salads are off the menu after January 20th,” referring to Trump’s inauguration.
Throughout her unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, Harris was criticized for her tendency to make verbose and unclear statements, with critics arguing that this reflected deeper issues with her leadership abilities. Her recent remarks to the fire victims have only amplified this criticism in her final days in office.
As meteorologists predict more dangerous high winds, firefighting efforts may face further challenges. The Biden administration had pledged to cover 100% of firefighting costs for 180 days as emergency operations centers prepared for what was their final major crisis response under the Biden government.
