In a recent interview with podcast host Shannon Sharpe, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a stark warning to Black Americans about former President Donald Trump, asserting that a Trump administration would eliminate their First and Second Amendment rights. Harris’ remarks highlight a Democratic push to retain Black voters ahead of the 2024 election, although her statements have stirred controversy and prompted criticism from conservative circles.
The conversation with Sharpe turned to the question of Black support for Trump, a demographic that some analysts suggest is showing increasing disillusionment with the Democratic Party. Sharpe asked Harris to explain why some Black Americans feel that Trump might be a better choice for the community. Harris appeared visibly perplexed and responded by suggesting Trump had indicated he would “terminate” the Constitution, although she provided no specifics on when or where Trump allegedly made such a statement. Without offering further evidence, Harris doubled down, claiming that Black voters under Trump would see “the First Amendment… gone. The Second Amendment” also, while adding, “I don’t believe we should be taking anybody’s guns away,” a point that immediately drew attention for its irony given her past stance on gun control.
NEW: Kamala Harris says black men need to vote for her because Donald Trump will take their guns and free speech away.
You can't make this up.
Shannon Sharpe: Blacks for Trump. They feel that Trump is better for the black community. Can you explain that?
Harris: Right. That's… pic.twitter.com/B3xc9KiAIW
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 28, 2024
Harris’ comments mirror a history of Democrats expressing concern over Black support for Trump, dating back to President Joe Biden’s 2020 remark that Black voters who didn’t support him “ain’t Black.” Prominent Democrats have occasionally conveyed a tone that critics argue implies ownership over the Black vote. Last week, former President Barack Obama faced backlash after he was recorded addressing young Black men, implying they were overlooking the stakes of the election by showing ambivalence about Harris. Some conservative Black leaders have criticized these interactions as “paternalistic,” framing them as attempts to shame or pressure Black Americans into loyalty to the Democratic Party.
Yet, Harris’ comments were met with agreement by Sharpe, who expressed his own concerns about a potential rollback of First Amendment protections under a Trump administration. While the exchange aimed to illustrate a unified front against Trump, critics quickly pointed out that current Democratic policies are more frequently linked to limiting political expression and speech online. Social media restrictions on disinformation, many argue, disproportionately target conservative voices—a point Harris and Sharpe sidestepped in their conversation.
Critics on the right also noted the contradictions in Harris’ support of the Second Amendment, given her track record on gun control. In past public forums, including campaign events, television interviews, and town halls, Harris has frequently advocated for policies that would limit gun ownership. Notably, she has expressed support for “mandatory buybacks” of semi-automatic firearms, a form of forced purchase that gun rights advocates argue effectively confiscates legally owned weapons. In a 2019 campaign event, Harris described confiscation as “a good idea,” though she stressed the need to approach it “the right way.” Her statements from that period often echoed her position that the government should financially compensate citizens who surrender their guns but made clear her belief that certain firearms should be removed from circulation.
Harris also made her stance explicit during a Tonight Show appearance with Jimmy Fallon, where she reiterated her support for gun “buybacks” as part of a comprehensive approach to gun violence. “A buyback program is a good idea,” she remarked, “but it has to be done in a way that gives people the financial value of their firearms.” In the same year, she advocated mandatory buybacks during a gun safety forum hosted by MSNBC. She reiterated this stance during a 2019 town hall in Iowa, advocating for federal action to limit access to firearms that she argued are incompatible with public safety.
The focus on Harris’ stance regarding constitutional rights for Black Americans in the context of the election reflects the high stakes and tense tone of the campaign. Democrats see Trump’s appeal among some Black voters as a potential threat to their coalition, while Republicans emphasize freedom of speech and the right to bear arms as critical issues they say are under threat from Democratic policies. Bannon and other conservative commentators seized on Harris’ comments, with Bannon suggesting that Harris’ statements reflect a disconnection with ordinary Americans and an overreach that misunderstands the value placed on constitutional rights.
Analysts observe that while the Second Amendment is often associated with conservative politics, it holds resonance among Black voters concerned about self-defense and autonomy, especially in areas where crime is a concern. Additionally, the First Amendment, including the rights to free speech and assembly, has particular historical significance for Black Americans as part of the legacy of civil rights activism.
The Democratic campaign’s approach to Black voters thus balances a critique of Trump with calls for loyalty from a demographic critical to Democratic success. Harris’ message in the interview with Sharpe underscores a central tension: while Democrats continue to frame themselves as defenders of civil liberties, they are simultaneously under scrutiny for policies seen as restricting freedoms in the name of social equity and safety. For now, her comments serve as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play in the 2024 race, where the question of Black voter allegiance remains both a crucial element and a potential swing factor in the election outcome.
Is this parody?!
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 28, 2024
Adam Coleman asks another very obvious question.
Do people not know the president can't get rid of the Constitution?
I think this fact is incredibly important to acknowledge.
— Adam B. Coleman, Le Based Black (@wrong_speak) October 28, 2024
Some people remember Kamala’s past gun-grabbing rhetoric:
Kamala casually pushing to end gun rights pic.twitter.com/tiemDYThfx
— Anti Left Memes (@AntiLeftMemes) October 28, 2024
He just sat there and took it as gospel.
Whatever reputation he had before is quickly dissolving after giving Harris the most softball interview yet.
— Joshua Walker (@RedsRepair95) October 28, 2024
