In a candid interview with the BBC, former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has left the door open for another presidential bid, declaring “I am not done” and affirming her enduring dedication to public service. Her comments, made during a discussion about her political future, represent her strongest indication yet that she may seek the White House again in 2028.
Harris spoke with BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg in her first UK interview, which is scheduled to air on Sunday. When asked if she could envision herself as president, Harris responded with “possibly,” and elaborated that she has not made a final decision but remains committed to her career in politics. “I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it’s in my bones,” she stated, underscoring her long-term aspirations and hinting at a potential 2028 campaign after her 2024 loss to Donald Trump.
Reflecting on the 2024 election defeat, Harris suggested that President Joe Biden’s last-minute withdrawal from the race significantly hampered her campaign, leaving her with only 107 days to mount a bid. She described the loss as traumatizing, repeating “My god, my god, what will happen to our country?” when the results came in, and emphasized the narrow popular vote margin while acknowledging her substantial electoral college defeat. Harris contended that the late start made it nearly impossible to win, though critics have pointed to her messaging and leadership as factors.
During the interview, Harris launched sharp criticisms at President Trump, calling him a “tyrant” and asserting that her campaign warnings about his authoritarian tendencies have proven accurate. She cited examples such as the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel by ABC after a joke about Republican figures, which she attributed to Trump’s influence and thin-skinned response to criticism. Harris also accused some business leaders and institutions of “bending the knee” to Trump’s demands for personal gain, such as seeking regulatory approvals or avoiding investigations.
The White House swiftly dismissed Harris’s remarks, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stating, “When Kamala Harris lost the election in a landslide, she should’ve taken the hint – the American people don’t care about her absurd lies.” Jackson added that Harris’s decision to air grievances to foreign publications might indicate her awareness of diminished domestic support, reflecting the administration’s dismissive stance toward her critiques.
Harris’s interview coincides with the release of her memoir, “107 Days,” which chronicles the chaotic period after Biden’s withdrawal and her subsequent campaign. In the book, she reportedly describes Biden’s re-election bid as “reckless,” fueling ongoing Democratic soul-searching about the party’s strategy and leadership failures in the 2024 race. The memoir and interview have sparked discussions about whether Harris could have urged Biden to step down earlier to improve her chances.
Despite facing skepticism, including polls from her home state of California where fewer than a third of voters support another presidential run, Harris remains resilient. She noted that she never pays attention to polls, recalling that she overcame similar doubts in her earlier political career, and expressed confidence that her grandnieces will “for sure” see a woman president in their lifetime, hinting that she could be that leader. However, with figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom also in contention, her path to the nomination is uncertain.
As Democrats navigate their path forward against a populist right-wing movement, Harris’s potential candidacy adds to the party’s internal debates about how to reconnect with working-class voters and address economic issues like housing and childcare. Whether she can rally broader support and articulate a compelling message remains to be seen, but her unwavering ambition suggests that this may not be the last chapter in her political story, setting the stage for a contentious 2028 primary season.