The New York Times published a report that equates skepticism about Vice President Kamala Harris's claim to have worked at McDonald's with the discredited birtherism theory, suggesting that doubts surrounding this anecdote are politically motivated.
Central to the Times' defense of Harris is the testimony of Wanda Kagan, a high school friend of Harris. Kagan claims that Harris's late mother had told her about the summer job years ago, though Kagan herself was not in touch with Harris during the alleged McDonald’s employment.
Kagan, however, is more than just an old friend with a vague recollection—she is an outspoken supporter of Harris, having appeared at several campaign events alongside her. During the Democratic National Convention, Kagan publicly expressed her emotional support for Harris, sharing personal stories that have been highlighted throughout Harris’s campaign.
Most notably, Harris has credited Kagan’s experience of abuse as a key motivator in her decision to become a prosecutor.
What the Times failed to disclose in its article is that Kagan’s relationship with Harris goes beyond casual friendship. She has actively campaigned for Harris, co-hosted events, and continues to appear with the vice president at social functions, including a recent birthday celebration at the White House. In fact, just the day before the Times published its report, Kagan posted videos of herself toasting with Harris at an event, demonstrating their close and ongoing connection.
The Free Beacon, which first raised questions about Harris’s McDonald’s job claim, pointed out discrepancies in the timelines and narratives offered by the Harris campaign. Initially, the campaign stated that Harris worked at McDonald’s to pay her way through Howard University.
However, this shifted to the story that she worked there during the summer of 1983, after her freshman year, for extra spending money. Despite these inconsistencies, the Times’ article did not acknowledge these evolving explanations, nor did it highlight the fact that no firsthand witnesses have come forward to confirm Harris’s McDonald’s employment.
Furthermore, Kagan’s claim, based on a conversation with Harris’s mother, remains unverified since Harris’s mother passed away in 2009. To date, Harris’s campaign has not produced any corroborating evidence or testimonies from others who might have firsthand knowledge of Harris’s summer job.
Instead, Kagan, the sole source cited in the Times’ report, has become a fixture in Harris's political sphere, raising questions about the objectivity of her claims.