Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech this week criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration. The following day, White House staff members rallied behind Trump, defending his legacy.

On May 1, 2025, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller joined Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to hold a press briefing. The pair addressed the media to publicly respond to Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ criticism of President Donald Trump.

On April 30, 2025, Harris delivered a high-profile speech in San Francisco, where she sharply criticized the alleged agenda of Trump’s administration. This marked her first major speech since losing the US election to him.

A reporter at Miller and Leavitt’s press briefing said Harris personally attacked the president and his policies, and asked for the White House’s response. The pair addressed Harris’s comments.

Miller stated, “I think it was a great reminder to the American people of just how blessed we all are that the leader sitting in the Oval Office today is President Donald Trump and not President Kamala Harris.”

He described her speech as a “helpful reminder” of the “travesty and a tragedy that would have been.” He claimed such an outcome would have marked the end of America.

The politician warned that the country would have continued down a destructive path filled with “radical regulations, choking off American energy, sending our supply chains to foreign countries, taxing our economy to death, pushing this cancerous woke ideology on our children, ending merit, ending scientific innovation, ending public safety,” and letting criminals roam free if Harris won.

The Deputy Chief of Staff alleged that under the previous administration, law-abiding citizens were “punished while gangbangers were given red carpet treatment” — a pattern he claimed persists under the Democrats.

He further accused Harris and her party of enabling a “border invasion” and asserted that the continuation of such policies would have ended America. Miller went on to say, “The only thing Americans want to hear from Kamala Harris is an apology.”

Miller believes Harris owes the nation an apology for “joining Joe Biden in aiding and abetting the invasion of our country.” He emphasized that this is an issue the administration will not stop discussing because, in his words, what Biden and Harris did is “unforgivable” and an “eternal stain on the Democratic Party.”

The politician said they constantly see reports of aliens who were allowed into the country illegally and were later arrested. According to him, these individuals committed crimes such as sexually assaulting children, beating women, murdering parents, and trafficking drugs into the US.

Miller questioned what he sees as a lack of empathy among the Washington press corps, saying he doesn’t understand why they aren’t emotionally affected. He claimed their only focus seems to be securing more trials for terrorist supporters, gangbangers, and what he termed “illegal invaders.”

The Deputy Chief of Staff insisted that the US Constitution clearly authorizes the quick and proper expulsion of such individuals. He declared that Trump has “literally saved America.”

The politician said he and Leavitt are proud to report to a White House led by someone whose every thought revolves around “the safety, prosperity, security, and sovereignty of the citizens of this republic.”

Leavitt added her own remarks, concluding the briefing by saying, “I think I speak for everyone at the White House, we encourage Kamala Harris to continue going out and doing speaking engagements.”

Harris’s appearance at the city’s Palace Hotel saw her addressing fellow Democrats at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala. In her speech, she emphasized the need for American leaders who work to improve lives and strengthen the nation.

Criticizing Trump’s administration, she stated, “Sadly, we have seen quite the opposite over these past few months. Now I know tonight’s event happens to coincide with the 100 days after the inauguration, and I’ll leave it to others to give a full accounting of what has happened so far.”

She contended that, rather than striving to uphold America’s highest ideals, the current administration is overseeing “the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.” Yet she praised Americans who, in the past 14 days, have raised their voices in resistance.

The former Vice President described the situation as “The greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history.” She argued that Americans are now realizing the damage caused by the president’s “reckless tariffs,” which she said have driven up the cost of everyday essentials.

Harris also accused the administration of wrecking retirement accounts that citizens spent decades funding. She claimed businesses, both large and small, are being paralyzed — forced to downsize, halt hiring, or stop investing.

Praising the resilience of citizens, she expressed pride in those standing against Trump, highlighting how people have called out court order violations and the unlawful detainment of US citizens and others. She also acknowledged judges who upheld the law despite threats of jail time, and universities that resisted unconstitutional demands.

Harris said, “I understand what we are, in fact, witnessing is a high velocity event where a vessel is being used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making.” She cited the reduction of government services and tax breaks for the wealthy as part of that agenda.

The politician characterized that agenda as “a narrow self-serving vision of America” that punishes truth-tellers while rewarding loyalists. Urging solidarity, she told the audience and viewers, “In the face of crisis, the lesson is don’t don’t scatter.”

Harris stated, “The instinct has to be to immediately find and connect with each other and to know that the circle will be strong.”

As Harris reenters the national conversation with forceful rhetoric, the fierce rebuttal from Trump’s administration signals that both parties are gearing up for renewed political confrontation. The clash underscores growing divides in how each side defines leadership and American values.

As previously reported, a remark from the 36th White House press secretary about the former president’s return to the spotlight has sparked backlash and stirred debate over political decorum.

Leavitt made headlines with her blunt response to former President Biden’s first public address since leaving office. His speech, delivered on April 15, 2025, focused on Social Security.

In her statement, Leavitt remarked, “My first reaction when seeing former President Biden was speaking tonight was, I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime. I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.”

The 27-year-old further stated, “I understand the topic of his speech will be Social Security. Let me make it very clear ahead of former President Biden’s remarks — President Trump is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program.”

“He will always protect this program. He campaigned on it. He protected it in his first term, and he’s back again to continue protecting it,” concluded Leavitt, who happens to be the youngest White House press secretary to date.

The first part of Leavitt’s statement — a jab at Biden’s age and energy — sparked widespread backlash across social media platforms, with many calling her words disrespectful and unprofessional.

On Facebook, several people condemned her tone. One person wrote, “Very rude. She’s talking about a former US President. He deserves at least respect!”

Another commented, “Ok, so, although I do usually like her blunt nature, however, this was immature and disrespectful. I did not care for President Biden, but he was still our President, and he is still a person [sic].”

One netizen said, “Inappropriate.” Another commenter added, “So juvenile, disrespectful, and classless.” One more person commented, “That is just so wrong to say, didn’t need! But I am not surprised from you [sic]!”

On Instagram, reactions were equally strong. One person wrote, “She does a great job, but don’t think her comments are appropriate. Should be above that [sic].”

Another added, “Karoline, you crossed the line!” One netizen remarked, “So unnecessary for a person in her position to speak like this.”

Biden made a rare public appearance on April 15, 2025, delivering a speech at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) in Chicago. The event formed part of a nationwide Social Security Day of Action.

At the conference, Biden criticized President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions related to Social Security. Although Biden has largely avoided public speaking since leaving office, his participation in the event highlighted growing concerns about changes to the program.

The ACRD, which hosted the conference, focuses on equipping disability professionals with the tools, technology, and training to lead the industry forward.

The organization is committed to empowering advocates, counselors, and representatives by providing comprehensive education and fostering leadership within the disability support community. Its mission centers on elevating standards in disability representation and supporting advocates across various sectors.

According to Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries, “This is an all hands on deck moment, which is why President Biden’s voice in this moment is so important.”

The backdrop to Biden’s appearance includes recent and controversial moves by the Trump administration affecting the Social Security Administration (SSA). Upon returning to office, President Trump initiated government workforce cuts, which included plans to lay off 7,000 SSA employees.

Additional policy changes have have resulted in tighter identity-verification requirements and a data-sharing initiative involving the Department of Government Efficiency, led by adviser Elon Musk.

Musk, who has described Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” has drawn attention to the administration’s efforts to streamline operations.

However, some of these actions have been met with legal challenges and growing public concern. A lawsuit was filed after the SSA granted Musk’s department access to individuals’ Social Security data.

Meanwhile, recipients have reported issues ranging from increased wait times on SSA’s helpline to incorrect notifications about benefit status.

While the agency attributed some issues to system errors, concerns remain, especially among Supplemental Security Income recipients, including disabled individuals and low-income households.

Attorney Jason Turkish, who attended the ACRD event and represents one of the country’s largest disability law firms, said many of his 32,000 clients are anxious. “We go from Republican to Democrat, Democrat to Republican and there’s always been a belief that Social Security is just something we do not touch,” he stated.

Despite the turmoil, Turkish expressed cautious optimism. He noted that SSA officials had walked back certain identity verification requirements and acknowledged ongoing modernization efforts at the agency.

Biden’s return to the spotlight came three months after his farewell address on January 15, 2025. At the time, he spoke directly to the American people, expressing hope for the country’s future.

“And my eternal thanks to you, the American people. After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure,” he said.

In that same speech, Biden urged Americans to continue upholding democratic values, “Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it too. God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.”

As he concluded his term, he stated, “You know, it will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted, and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come.”

Biden also voiced support for a peaceful transition, adding, “I wish the incoming administration success, because I want America to succeed. That’s why I’ve upheld my duty to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power to ensure we lead by the power of our example.”

Karoline Leavitt’s reaction to Biden’s return to the public stage sparked strong public responses and underscored the political tensions surrounding Social Security.

As debates continue over the program’s future, Biden’s appearance and Leavitt’s remarks reflect the broader national conversation on leadership, policy direction, and public accountability.