“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” This curious question raised by Harris during the May 2023 White House Ceremony has become ubiquitous with her campaign.
Harris has been trending on social media, particularly on her TikTok account, @kamalahq. Recently, she invited rapper Megan Thee Stallion to perform at a campaign event. Several videos of Harris, including the “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” moment and the viral “We did it, Joe” clip, have resurfaced. “I mean, she’s catering to younger audiences and young people, and that’s really smart,” student Gracey Wuest said.
Harris became an internet sensation on July 21, when she was endorsed to run for office. She has served as President Joe Biden’s vice president since Jan. 2021. On July 21, Biden dropped out of the election and endorsed Harris as his replacement.
Harris has served as vice president for the past three years. Before entering politics, she was a lawyer and state attorney. She also served four years in the U.S. Senate from Jan. 2017 until her resignation in 2021 to assume the role of vice president.
Harris has not given many interviews, making her platform challenging to understand. Critics say she has been cautious with the press, while supporters argue that it is a smart strategy. “We need to see where her morals truly lie and where she stands against thoughts running against her,” Sophia Price said, a neutral observer of Harris’s campaign.
What we do know is that Harris’s platform includes protecting abortion rights on a national scale. On climate change, she proposed a $10 trillion plan and co-sponsored the Green New Deal. Harris is also working on a plan to forgive student loans for those who have paid undergraduate loans for more than 20 years or graduate loans for more than 25 years. “Almost all students understand the struggle of student loans. Enough. It’s time we make college tuition-free once and for all,” Harris said.
In the area of artificial intelligence, Harris led an executive order mandating how the federal government would use and develop AI, urging Congress to adopt regulations to protect individuals from job losses and other harms. On animal welfare, Harris supports the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and has provided funding for USDA inspectors overseeing conditions at puppy mills, research laboratories, roadside zoos, circuses, and other regulated facilities.
On Aug. 5, Harris announced her choice for vice president: Tim Walz. Walz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 and was reelected in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2018, Walz was elected governor of Minnesota and won reelection in 2022. “I think he was very liked in Minnesota, he seems very intelligent and has a disarming personality, making people feel non-threatened by him,” Allan South said.
