False claims targeting Vice President Kamala Harris have resurfaced on social media following President Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race and endorsement of Harris. One of the claims is that Harris’ foreign-born parents make her ineligible to hold office, with posts garnering millions of views. However, Harris was born in Oakland, California, to Jamaican and Indian immigrants, and this fact does not disqualify her from serving as vice president or president. Critics have baselessly doubted Harris’ race, with some claiming she is lying about being Black. Manipulated audio and visuals clips have also been spread online to paint Harris as addled or rambling.
Some individuals have used an op-ed written by pro-Trump lawyer John Eastman to support false claims about Harris’ citizenship, arguing that the Constitution does not grant citizenship to the children of individuals born outside of the United States. However, an editor’s note appended to the opinion by Newsweek states that the publication is horrified that the op-ed led to a wave of vile Birtherism directed at Senator Harris. Additionally, the false narrative circulating on social media claims that Harris is not Black because her father is from Jamaica, despite the fact that the majority of Jamaica’s population has African heritage.
In response to the false claims surrounding her race, Harris has emphasized that she is proud of being Black and will not make excuses for those who do not understand. Some manipulated audio and visual clips of Harris have been shared online to portray her in a negative light. For example, a digitally altered video of Harris appeared to show her speaking incoherently at Howard University, and a photo superimposing Jeffrey Epstein’s face on her husband’s was used to falsely connect her to the convicted sex offender.
Disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz warns users to pause and assess their emotions when encountering outrageous narratives about Harris on social media. She notes that emotional and salacious content tends to be the most engaging, and individuals spreading such false claims are aware of this. It is crucial for individuals to be critical consumers of information, especially when it comes to political figures, and to verify sources before sharing or promoting falsehoods. As Vice President Harris continues to face false claims and attacks on social media, it is important for the public to be vigilant and discerning when engaging with online content.
