Former Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the current administration under President Donald Trump at the Leading Women Defined Summit in Dana Point, California, on Thursday, April 3. She acknowledged the realization of several warnings from her campaign while clarifying her intent was not to gloat.
“There were many things we knew were gonna happen,” remarked Harris, who entered the 2024 presidential race after former President Joe Biden withdrew. “I’m not gonna say ‘I told you so,'” she added, receiving applause and cheers from the audience.
The summit, established by former BET CEO Debra Lee, aims to empower women of color and gave Harris a platform to discuss the political situation within the first 100 days of Trump’s second term.
Harris noted substantial changes since 2016, stating that under the current administration, “progress and policies have been rolled back” and “effective policies have been denied,” with a widespread “sense of fear” across the nation.
“We are seeing people stay quiet. We are seeing organizations stay quiet. We are seeing capitulating to clearly unconstitutional threats,” Harris expressed, highlighting concerns about the impact on public discourse and civic involvement.
Her comments follow President Trump’s aggressive approach to dismantle Biden-era policies through executive actions. As per White House fact sheets and various news reports, Trump rescinded nearly 80 of Biden’s executive orders on his first day in office, with 19 more actions revoked in March.
The rescinded policies cover various areas, including those labeled by the current administration as “radical gender ideology,” climate initiatives described as “Green New Deal” policies, labor practices focusing on unions, and biotechnology programs from the previous administration.
Beyond executive orders, Trump has advocated for eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, approved layoffs affecting thousands of federal employees, and instituted comprehensive global tariffs that economic analysts indicate have adversely affected the stock market.
The rapid changes mark an unprecedented exercise of executive power. According to CBS News, Trump issued a record 100 executive orders within his first 100 days in office, surpassing the numbers issued by previous presidents within similar periods.
These actions have targeted multiple policy domains, including efforts to reduce the federal government’s size, reshape trade policies, deregulate fossil fuel industries, and enforce stricter immigration measures. However, some orders, such as those aiming to end birthright citizenship and freeze foreign aid, have encountered legal challenges and temporary judicial halts.
The swift policy reversals reflect Trump’s campaign statements. According to multiple sources, he had vowed to “undo almost everything Biden did” via executive orders, with many changes implemented on his first day back in office.
For Harris, who had forewarned of these potential outcomes during her presidential campaign, the current political landscape presents challenges and opportunities. In the 2024 campaign, she specifically cautioned voters about Trump’s policies outlined in Project 2025, warning of reversed progress, increased consumer prices, and the potential elimination of the Department of Education along with significant Medicaid cuts.
Instead of focusing on vindication, Harris encouraged summit attendees to exercise their “great power” to lead with courage rather than fear. She stressed that people globally are watching and relying on them to be “kind, fierce, and united” in addressing current challenges.
Harris’ remarks come as Democrats appear to regain momentum. Judge Susan Crawford’s victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election is seen as a positive sign for the party, particularly as it occurred despite substantial financial support for Crawford’s opponent from prominent Trump supporter Elon Musk.
As the Trump administration continues its agenda, Harris’ warnings about the second Trump term’s potential consequences have become a focal point for Democrats aiming to rally opposition to the current administration’s policies while preparing for future electoral contests.