A typical panel discussion on CNN escalated into a heated debate on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, when businessman and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary referred to former Vice President Kamala Harris as a “loser” following her defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
The exchange took place during CNN’s NewsNight program as the panel focused on the Democratic Party’s strategy after President Biden decided not to run in the 2024 race. O’Leary criticized the Democrats for not holding a traditional primary process and selecting Harris as their nominee after Biden’s withdrawal, which followed his lackluster debate performance against Donald Trump.
“They did not run a process. They picked a loser, and she lost, and she got slaughtered because they didn’t run a process,” O’Leary told the panel.
His remarks were met with immediate opposition from fellow panelists, including CNN political commentators Bakari Sellers, Karen Finney, and podcast host Van Lathan, who defended Harris and objected to O’Leary’s description.
Lathan interjected, advocating for respect for Harris, while Finney argued that calling the former vice president a “loser” was disrespectful. Both commentators appeared visibly affected by O’Leary’s blunt assessment.
The discussion became more contentious as O’Leary stood by his comments. Despite the other panelists’ objections, he claimed he was merely stating facts about the election outcome. This stance led to increased tension on the set.
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings attempted to shift the conversation to former President Biden’s public absence following his withdrawal from the race. Jennings raised questions about who was making significant policy decisions during the transition period, noting that Biden “basically disappeared” from the public eye between Election Day and the inauguration.
“At that point, if he was not fit to run for office, I argued at the time he was not fit to serve in the office at the time, yet he was,” Jennings said, expressing concern over who was responsible for “monumental policy decisions” during that period.
As the discussion intensified, Sellers defended Harris, asserting there was “nothing about Kamala Harris that’s a loser,” leading O’Leary to restate his position more emphatically.
The panel fell into chaotic crosstalk as participants vied for the floor. O’Leary’s voice rose above the others as he repeated that Harris was “slaughtered” in the election because the Democratic Party “anointed” her instead of allowing her to earn the nomination through a competitive primary process.
CNN host Abby Phillip attempted to restore order, pointing out that Harris had been elected as vice president in 2020 on Biden’s ticket. O’Leary countered that Harris had never been elected president and reiterated that she was “anointed” as the nominee without facing primary scrutiny.
Before the segment concluded, O’Leary critiqued Harris’ communication skills, claiming she “couldn’t put two sentences together,” prompting Phillip to disagree, stating, “We know that is not true.”
The heated exchange highlights broader tensions in American political discourse following the 2024 presidential election. Harris’ nomination followed Biden’s unexpected announcement that he would not seek reelection, a decision that came amid speculation about his age and fitness for office. The Democratic Party’s swift support for Harris without holding additional primaries has been a point of debate among political analysts.
The CNN discussion stemmed from a segment about an upcoming book titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” written by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson. According to the book, top Harris advisor David Plouffe criticized Biden, suggesting his delayed exit from the race hindered Harris’ campaign efforts.
O’Leary, 70, is known for his blunt assessments on “Shark Tank” and media appearances. Prior to his television career, he co-founded SoftKey Software Products, later renamed The Learning Company, which was acquired by Mattel for $4.2 billion. He first gained recognition on Canada’s “Dragons’ Den” before joining “Shark Tank” in 2009.
Known as “Mr. Wonderful,” O’Leary is a polarizing figure, praised for his direct style that often makes headlines.
The CNN segment concluded without resolution as the program shifted topics. The exchange clip circulated on social media, drawing reactions from both supporters of O’Leary’s candid assessment and critics of his remarks.
This incident occurs amid ongoing analysis of the 2024 election results and discussions about the Democratic Party’s future direction. Political strategists have debated whether a more traditional primary process might have led to a different outcome or better prepared the eventual nominee for the general election against Trump.