When Jussie Smollett fooled Kamala Harris

In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris publicly endorsed actor Jussie Smollett, calling him one of the kindest people she knew. This support came in light of Smollett's claims of being the victim of a hate crime, which he later admitted to having fabricated. Critics have pointed to her endorsement as an example of her lack of discernment, suggesting it undermines her credibility in political discourse. Further scrutiny of Harris’s judgment arose when she claimed on NBC's Meet the Press that the U.S. had a secure border. This assertion was directly contradicted by President Biden, who has stated that the border’s security has been a long-standing concern. These misjudgments have led to questions about Harris’s ability to assess significant issues accurately. Moreover, her past decisions, including her support for Smollett, have been characterized as indicative of a broader tendency to prioritize agenda-driven narratives over factual accuracy. Critics argue that such tendencies may hinder her effectiveness in addressing complex national security and foreign policy issues. This discourse culminates in a growing narrative among opponents that, if Harris was misled by Smollett's false claims, she might struggle against more sophisticated adversaries on the world stage, raising doubts about her suitability for leadership roles involving critical matters.