President Donald Trump has publicly ridiculed former Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “wasn’t so hot,” as a newly released Democratic National Committee (DNC) “autopsy” report exposes deep internal divisions over her potential 2028 presidential bid. The report, which examines the party’s 2024 election loss, also criticizes the Biden administration’s handling of Harris’s preparation for the campaign.
On Saturday, May 23, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to react to the DNC’s findings. He wrote: “The Democrats just released an ‘Autopsy’ of their 2024 Presidential Campaign, typos and all, but they refused to discuss two very important words, BAD POLICY. The candidates, Sleepy Joe and then, Kamala, weren’t so ‘HOT’ either!”
The DNC’s nearly 200-page report was designed to analyze the strategic and messaging failures that led to Trump’s victory over Harris in November 2024. It points to “inconsistent messaging and improper planning” as key factors, while also faulting the Biden White House for failing to integrate Harris more effectively before she became the nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
Internal Democratic Skepticism About 2028
Trump’s comments come at a time of growing uncertainty inside the Democratic Party about Harris’s future ambitions. A recent report from Vanity Fair, based on interviews with more than two dozen Democratic operatives, former White House aides, donors, and campaign staffers, reveals that many insiders believe a second Harris campaign would be a mistake.
One former Harris campaign adviser described the idea of a 2028 run as “obviously a bad idea.” A former White House aide responded “Absolutely not” when asked whether Harris should run again. Another former Harris adviser told the publication: “I have spoken to maybe one person out of a hundred who thinks she should run.”
Billionaire Mark Cuban, who supported Harris in the 2024 election, has also reportedly voiced opposition to another bid. One Democratic donor said simply, “I don’t think she should run for president.”
Despite this widespread skepticism, some current advisers continue to defend Harris’s political standing. They point to her national profile and the more than 75 million votes she received in 2024 — a figure that surpasses any other potential Democratic candidate. “She got more votes than anyone else who’s thinking about running. She has national experience,” one current Harris adviser said.
The DNC Autopsy Report: Key Findings
The DNC report, which was released in full earlier this week, examines the many reasons behind the party’s defeat. It acknowledges that internal strategic failures and messaging problems plagued the campaign from the start. The document specifically calls out the Biden White House for not leveraging Harris earlier in the administration.
“Had the White House explored and evaluated ways to leverage Kamala Harris earlier in the administration, perhaps it would have improved the president’s standing, and it certainly could have helped prepare her to lead the ticket,” the report states.
The review also criticizes Democratic-aligned groups for failing to effectively attack Trump on economic issues. It concludes that “Harris lost the economic argument” during the campaign, a failure that contributed significantly to her defeat.
The report adds that the Democratic Party’s messaging on key issues such as inflation, the economy, and immigration was inconsistent and often reactive, allowing Trump to frame the narrative. The campaign’s internal coordination was also described as flawed, with various branches of the party working at cross-purposes.
Harris’s Political Journey and Public Stance
Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to serve as vice president, has had a political career marked by both historic achievements and significant challenges. Before becoming Joe Biden’s running mate in 2020, Harris served as a U.S. Senator from California (2017–2021) and as the state’s Attorney General (2011–2017). She ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 but dropped out before the primaries, later endorsing Biden.
As vice president, Harris was tasked with several high-profile responsibilities, including leading the administration’s efforts on voting rights, immigration reform, and the root causes of migration from Central America. However, her tenure was also marked by criticism over her handling of the border crisis and internal White House tensions regarding her portfolio.
During the 2024 campaign, Harris took over the Democratic ticket after Biden withdrew amid declining poll numbers and concerns about his age and electability. She ran a vigorous campaign that emphasized abortion rights, democracy, and economic fairness, but ultimately fell short. She received 75.1 million votes to Trump’s 78.3 million, losing the Electoral College 226 to 312.
Despite the loss, Harris has not closed the door on another campaign. In early 2025, she told reporters she was still “thinking” about a possible 2028 run. This statement has fueled both hope among her loyal supporters and concern among party strategists who fear another divisive primary battle.
Trump’s Continued Attacks and the Political Landscape
Trump’s latest criticism of Harris is part of a broader pattern of attacks against both her and Biden. Since winning the 2024 election, Trump has frequently mocked his Democratic opponents, often using derogatory nicknames. His reference to “Sleepy Joe” and the claim that Harris “wasn’t so hot” aligns with his long history of personal insults in political discourse.
The 2028 race is still three years away, but the jockeying among Democrats has already begun. Potential candidates include Governors Gavin Newsom (California), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), and Senator Raphael Warnock (Georgia), among others. Harris’s continued presence as a possible candidate complicates the field, given her national name recognition and previous campaign apparatus.
However, the internal party doubts suggest that many Democrats believe the party needs a fresh face and a new strategy to counter Trump’s enduring popularity. The DNC report itself implicitly calls for a fundamental reassessment of party messaging and candidate preparation.
Reactions from the Harris Camp and Analysts
Current Harris supporters argue that the 2024 loss was not entirely her fault. They note that she entered the race late, in August 2024, after Biden’s withdrawal, and had to build a campaign infrastructure from scratch. They also point to the headwinds of inflation, global instability, and the historical difficulty of incumbency parties holding the White House.
One Harris ally told news outlets that “Kamala ran a great race under impossible circumstances. She energized the base and brought in record independent support. The idea that she should be written off is premature and disrespectful to the millions who voted for her.”
Political analysts, however, emphasize that the DNC report’s criticism of the campaign’s messaging and preparation is damning. “The report lays out a clear case that the party was unprepared, that the messaging was inconsistent, and that the candidate was not positioned to win the economic argument,” said Dr. Rachel Morton, a political science professor at Georgetown University. “That doesn’t mean Harris is unelectable in 2028, but it means she would need to address these fundamental weaknesses.”
Other commentators note that the Democratic Party is at a crossroads. The 2028 primaries could be a battle between the old guard and new voices. Harris, as the most recent nominee, represents continuity with the Biden era, while many activists and donors are calling for generational change.
The Role of the DNC Autopsy in Shaping Future Strategy
The release of the DNC autopsy is intended to guide the party’s future. It includes recommendations for improving candidate preparation, ensuring earlier coordination between the White House and the campaign, and developing a more consistent economic message. The report also suggests investing more in grassroots organizing and digital outreach to counter Trump’s effective use of social media and rallies.
Some party members have criticized the report for being too focused on internal mechanics rather than the policy positions that Trump successfully attacked. Trump himself latched onto this point, arguing that the “bad policy” of the Democratic administration was the real reason for the loss.
As the party debates its path forward, the question of Kamala Harris’s role remains central. For now, she continues to keep her options open, attending public events and maintaining her political network. Her next move will likely depend on the reception of the DNC report and the sentiments of key donors and party leaders.
Trump’s mockery, while perhaps designed to undermine her, also serves to draw attention to the internal divisions within the Democratic Party. With the 2026 midterms approaching, the party must decide whether to rally behind Harris or seek new leadership. The coming months will be critical in shaping the 2028 landscape.
Source: MSN News