A resurfaced video of Vice President Kamala Harris joking about former President Donald Trump during a 2018 appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" has gone viral once again.
Newsweek reported that the clip, which gained renewed attention following a second assassination attempt on Trump, has led to significant public discussion.
In the April 2018 video, Harris was asked a lighthearted question about being stuck in an elevator with then-President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, or Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Harris responded by joking, “Does one of us have to come out alive?” while laughing. Though the comment did not directly reference violence, some critics interpreted it as inappropriate or suggestive of harm toward Trump.
This clip, while initially aired in 2018, resurfaced multiple times in political contexts. In October 2020, it was circulated by the Trump War Room account and highlighted by Fox News host Sean Hannity.
In 2021, conservative commentator Matt Margolis shared the clip, calling for Harris’s impeachment. Each time, the joke sparked criticism from conservative commentators and politicians.
Recently, the video reappeared when podcaster Benny Johnson posted it on his social media accounts, where it quickly amassed millions of views.
As of this week, the post had garnered over 2.8 million views, 59,000 likes, and 20,000 reposts. Johnson’s post included commentary that accused Harris of “openly joking about assassinating President Trump,” which was met with both criticism and support from various users.
The resurfacing of the joke comes at a time of heightened attention following the second assassination attempt on Trump. On September 15, shots were reportedly fired near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. This follows another attempt on Trump’s life in July during an event in Pennsylvania. Both incidents have raised concerns about political violence in the United States.
Following the latest attempt, Harris took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the violence. “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe,” Harris wrote.
“Violence has no place in America.” She expressed similar sentiments after the July incident, emphasizing that political violence is unacceptable and thanking the Secret Service and other authorities for their swift actions.
Despite Harris’s statements, the resurfaced video continues to attract criticism, with some opponents suggesting it could be used against her in a potential presidential run. Conservative commentators have repeatedly highlighted the joke as evidence of what they claim is inappropriate behavior from the vice president.
Benny Johnson, in particular, used the clip to criticize Harris, accusing her of joking about Trump’s assassination in front of an “audience of clapping seals.” These remarks reflect the broader conservative critique that Harris’s joke crossed a line, even though it was not a direct call for violence.
It is important to note that while the joke has sparked controversy, Harris never explicitly referenced assassination or death in her comment.
Instead, Harris’s remark was made in a comedic setting on a daytime talk show, though the sensitivity of political rhetoric has undoubtedly evolved since then.
The ongoing debate about Harris’s 2018 joke highlights the increasingly tense political atmosphere surrounding high-profile political figures. In today’s polarized environment, comments made years ago are being reevaluated and used as ammunition in current political battles.
