Sarah Huckabee Sanders throws dig at Harris for not having biological children
During a campaign event for former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders suggested Vice President Kamala Harris is not humble because she does not have biological children.
The comments came during a town hall the governor moderated in Flint, Michigan, at first joking about how her children’s innocent remarks can make her feel humble despite her high-profile position.
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“You can walk into a room like this where people cheer when you step onto the stage and you might think for a second that you’re kind of special,” Sanders said. “Then you go home and your kids remind you very quickly that you’re not that big of a deal.”
She kept on the theme of humility before pivoting to the Democratic nominee for president.
“So, my kids keep me humble,” she said to the crowd, pausing for a few seconds. “Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.”
Harris has two stepchildren through her marriage to Doug Emhoff, Ella and Cole Emhoff, and has often spoken about her role as stepmom or, using her nickname, “Momala.” Kerstin Emhoff, the ex-wife of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, has been a vocal supporter of Harris’ campaign and has repeatedly celebrated Harris’ role as stepmother to her two kids.
“Kamala Harris has spent her entire career working for the people, ALL families,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in response to Sanders’ comments. “That keeps you pretty humble.”
The crowd’s reaction was a mix of laughs and applause as well as some boos, though it’s unclear if they were directed toward Sanders’ comments or the mention of the rival nominee.
A senior campaign adviser to the Trump campaign, Bryan Lanza, slammed the remark during a CNN panel shortly after the town hall. His on-air comments signal a clear effort by some to distance the party from blowback.
“I found that comment to be actually offensive. I don’t know what more to say about that,” Lanza said. “I’m disappointed in Sarah saying that. I’m sure I’m going to get criticism from the campaign, but I have to sort of defend somebody who’s a stepmom. It’s a tough job. People step into that role.”
Sanders’ brazen comments are not out of the norm, as the governor has become known for making bold claims and embracing ‘culture war’ issues, especially concerning gender. She has fought against the Biden administration’s IX updates, and last year signed an executive order banning what she calls “woke, anti-women” words in government. The order states that the government should “reject language that ignores, undermines, and erases women,” and should “celebrate gender distinctions between men and women—not erase them.”
The Trump campaign has attracted ire over the last several weeks after a 2021 Fox News interview with running mate JD Vance resurfaced, during which he criticized Harris and other Democrats for not having biological children. He called them “childless cat ladies,” prompting bipartisan condemnation and morphing into a call-to-action by Harris supporters, echoing how women used Trump’s “nasty woman” attacks in his 2016 race against Hilary Clinton as a feminist slogan.
Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Sarah Huckabee Sanders blasts Harris for not having biological kids
