Kamala Harris Laughs Again During Serious Moment: Her strange and annoying cackling laugh was displayed again.
Vice President Kamala Harris became animated during a talk about increasing the number of woman leaders April 5.
There was no humor in the situation, but she giggled anyway. It’s unclear why Harris has fits of laughter during serious situations.
I am not sure if she is nervous, or attempts humor to connect better with audiences.
There was no need for this latest display of levity and her cackle takes away from what would be an overall positive message.
Here is what happened:
Detail About the Latest Kamala Harris Giggle
The latest hilarity happened at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Harris just returned from a week-long three country trip to Africa that mainly received positive reviews. She was discussing the need for more African-American and African woman political leaders when she burst into laughter for no reason.
Harris was asked by a moderator on the panel a serious question. “Why did you feel it was important to emphasize the empowerment of women and what was that like to meet one of so few of the female heads of state?”
Harris was explaining that there was “still work to be done.” After that sentence, she let out her trademark giggle that came out of nowhere. The audience, not knowing what to do next, laughed along with the vice president.
There Seems to Be a Pattern
The giggle takes place at the most inopportune moments. In March, Kamala Harris laughed while answering a question on another serious topic – Ukrainian refugees. That happened when speaking with Polish President Andrzej Duda at a news conference.
Start Making Sense
Harris also has a habit of talking in circles while searching for words. She ends up repeating phrases that don’t make sense. In Ghana, she said, “There are a number of things on the issue of the economy as a whole that we must do … and a lot of that work is the work that I am here to do on the continent.”
Critics call these communication errors “word salads.” She did it again last month at a speech on women’s history when she repeated the word “women” over and over.
It’s natural for people to feel nervous when speaking in public, but Harris by now should feel comfortable under the spotlight. She has been making speeches her entire career as a district attorney, attorney general, and U.S. Senator. It is doubtful she laughed in court as a prosecutor. While campaigning, there are times when laughter is appropriate such as when a candidate makes a joke or engages in other lighthearted moments. But she has fallen back on the giggle repeatedly as vice president.
One could say her laughter is harmless. It does affect messaging, but she is not making speeches that disparage or insult people; she gets tongue-tied. The word salads and laughter often happen when Harris goes off script or when she is talking off the cuff. She is trying to look like a fluid and confident speaker who can communicate without notes, but she is failing.
She Was Performing Well in Africa
I wrote recently that it looked like Harris was turning the corner – I was happy to see it. She acquitted herself well in Africa despite the flub in Ghana.
Harris resonated with the adoring crowds. She represented the United States with skill and confidence. Foreign policy may be a fitting issue that gets her out of the slump. However, the laughter needs to stop. It shows she is anxious.
Nervous laughter can happen in uncomfortable, pressure-packed situations or when a speaker has defense mechanisms, but Kamala Harris often uses the giggle in low-pressure venues with friendly crowds. The questions are not difficult to answer. Harris needs to recognize the periods during public appearances when she laughs. Staff can help her identify the triggers and then slowly try to eliminate the giggle.
As long as she has anxiety on stage, she will likely fall back to the cackle. This is unfortunate because Harris has so much potential and talent. But it is time to address this nervous tic and avoid it before the actual test – when she has a vice presidential debate during the 2024 election campaign. She will need to be at her best at that point, and laughter at the wrong moment could confuse and concern voters.
Author Expertise and Experience:
Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.
