Kamala Harris Apologizes for Laughing at 'Mentally Retarded' Comment at Rally
California Sen. Kamala Harris apologized Saturday after laughing when a man at one of her campaign events called President Donald Trump’s actions “mentally retarded.”
The 2020 Democratic hopeful was fielding questions at a Londonderry, New Hampshire, town hall event when the man used the offensive term.
In a Saturday tweet, Harris denied hearing the “upsetting” comment.
When my staff played the video from my town hall yesterday, it was upsetting. I didn’t hear the words the man used in that moment, but if I had I would’ve stopped and corrected him. I’m sorry. That word and others like it aren’t acceptable. Ever. https://t.co/mNmo1hyNpW
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 7, 2019
“When my staff played the video from my town hall yesterday, it was upsetting. I didn’t hear the words the man used in that moment, but if I had I would’ve stopped and corrected him. I’m sorry,” Harris said.
“That word and others like it aren’t acceptable. Ever.”
The man who used the offensive term had stepped to the microphone to ask what Harris would do as president to roll back the achievements of the Trump administration and curtail the effects of the president’s rhetoric.
“I am scared for this country. I am scared for the people of color in this country,” the man said, according to CNN.
“There needs to be accountability. I mean, what are you going to do in the next one year to diminish the mentally retarded action of this guy?” he asked.
During a rally, a voter referred to Trump’s actions as “mentally retarded”, prompting @KamalaHarris to laugh and say, “well said, well said.”
I hate amplifying content I know the right will seize on and twist for their own hypocritical gain, but this hurts my heart. #CripTheVote pic.twitter.com/aVQWtLFw30
— Kendally Brown (@kendallybrown) September 7, 2019
The man, who said he was from Harris’ mother’s hometown of Chennai, India, was widely applauded by the audience for his question.
Harris joined in the laughter, saying, “Well said, well said.”
The California senator initially told CBS News that she had missed the “mentally retarded” comment but heard “the other stuff” the man had said.
Yesterday, someone at a @KamalaHarris event called Pres. Trump “mentally retarded.”
The 2020 candidate told @CHueyBurns the term is “incredibly offensive” and said in 2019 you would think “people would have a much better understanding of how hurtful a term like that can be.” pic.twitter.com/01amMnkaqi
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 7, 2019
“It was not something that I really heard or processed, you know, in any way,” she claimed.
Harris also touted her “longstanding relationship with advocacy for our disability community” in the interview.
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