You'd think a phone call following an assassination attempt would have a certain gravitas. Former Vice President Kamala Harris discovered otherwise.
During an appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Harris shared an unexpected detail about her conversation with President Donald Trump after someone tried to kill him at his Florida golf course during the 2024 presidential campaign. While she was expressing concern for his safety, she could apparently hear Trump pitching his book in the background.
"I called him during a very sad moment, after there had been an attempt on his life," Harris explained. "I wanted to check on him, and it turned out to be a fascinating experience—at one point, I could even hear Trump trying to sell his book in the background of the call."
Harris made these comments while promoting her own book "107 Days," which documents her brief 2024 presidential campaign. She expressed surprise at the contrast between the seriousness of an assassination attempt and Trump's seemingly casual response to it all.
The assassination attempt was carried out by Ryan Wesley Routh, who was later convicted on five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a president. Routh had been monitoring Trump's West Palm Beach golf course for several weeks before making his move. A U.S. Secret Service agent stopped him before he could execute his plan.
The revelation sparked predictable reactions. White House spokesperson Elizabeth Huston criticized Harris for her ongoing book tour. Meanwhile, Professor William Hall from Webster University suggested that Trump's behavior, as Harris described it, was neither shocking nor out of character.
The incident highlights the starkly different approaches of the two political figures. Harris was focused on Trump's safety, while Trump apparently saw an opportunity to promote his book. The revelation could shape public perception of both politicians going forward, and it underscores the very real security risks that public figures face despite their sometimes cavalier attitudes about them.