Vice President Kamala Harris recently stirred up a whirlwind of social media reactions after delivering a speech on the economy in Pittsburgh, where she called for Americans to "move on" from "failed policies" that "we have proven don’t work." The irony of her statement—delivered by the sitting vice president—was not lost on conservative commentators, who took to platforms like Twitter to poke fun at her remarks.
Speaking at The Economic Club of Pittsburgh, Harris leaned heavily on her middle-class roots and pushed for initiatives aimed at strengthening the backbone of the economy.
Her proposals included increasing tax breaks for small businesses and offering a $25,000 credit for first-time homebuyers. Harris emphasized, “When the middle class is strong, America is strong,” painting a vision of economic empowerment that could boost the middle class and, by extension, the entire country.
Acceptance is the first step:
“We just need to move past the failed policies that we have proven don't work.” - Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/iB2SLe55Uh
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) September 25, 2024
But it was her comment about moving past "failed policies" that grabbed the attention of pundits. Conservative voices were quick to point out the paradox in her words. Former Trump campaign advisor Steve Cortes took a jab, humorously noting, "Acceptance is the first step," suggesting Harris might be unknowingly critiquing her own administration.
RedState columnist Buzz Patterson jumped in, quipping, "Who wants to tell her?"—hinting at the irony of a sitting VP criticizing current policies. Even Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon joined the fray, sarcastically framing her statement as an endorsement for Trump, writing, "She’s telling you to vote for Trump. Listen to her."
The jabs didn’t stop there. Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) chimed in, writing, "The American people are sick and tired of the Harris-Biden Administration’s failed policies. November can’t come soon enough!" This sentiment echoes the broader frustrations among conservative circles, where many point to rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and economic challenges as the result of current administration policies.
Kamala Harris says we need to move past the failed policies that don’t work. She’s telling to to vote for Trump. Listen to her. pic.twitter.com/EXLJfrGFlS
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) September 25, 2024
During the same speech, Harris took a more direct shot at her 2024 opponent, calling Donald Trump “one of the biggest losers ever,” borrowing a phrase President Biden had used earlier that day on "The View." Her comment was intended to highlight what she sees as Trump’s failures, but it did little to shield her from online critics who saw her call to move past “failed policies” as tone-deaf given her position.