Altered Video Circulating of Kamala Harris’s Speech

Claims have emerged about a video supposedly showing Vice President Kamala Harris stating an incoherent phrase during a speech. However, this video is altered. The original clip from a rally focused on reproductive rights at Howard University last Tuesday does not include this quote.

In the days following the event, Republicans mocked a real excerpt of Harris’s speech. Critics labeled the speech as a ‘word salad.’ Harris said, ‘So I think it’s very important — as you have heard from so many incredible leaders — for us, at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past, but the future.’

Over the weekend, a modified version of the video began circulating on social media. The audio was changed to make it seem as if Harris was speaking nonsensically. The altered audio made her appear to say, ‘Today is today. And yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. So live today, so the future today will be as the past today as it is tomorrow.’ This clip was shared widely, with some users viewing it as a joke while others believed it was genuine.

The manipulated clip was initially posted on Friday by an account known for editing political videos for humorous purposes. Although many recognized it as satire, there were suggestions by some users that the video was authentic. One tweet featuring the altered clip, viewed over 29,000 times by Tuesday, sarcastically commented on the video.

The real footage of Harris’s remarks was streamed by NARAL Pro-Choice America, an organization advocating for abortion rights. In the actual video, Harris talks about the importance of recognizing the current moment in historical context, but she does not utter the ‘today is today’ phrase.

The White House’s transcript of Harris’s speech confirms the absence of the altered statement. Her appearance at Howard University, where she graduated, coincided with President Joe Biden’s announcement of their 2024 reelection campaign.

The Associated Press is committed to countering misinformation by providing factual context in collaboration with various companies and organizations. This report is part of that effort.