Add The New York Post on Google Former Vice President Kamala Harris offered podcast host Don Lemon her own definition of the word “hope” on Friday, resulting in a clip that has since gone viral on social media as a “word salad” response.
“I really, truly believe this,” Harris said. “We each have light inside of us. And we need to know that that is what inspires our hope as much as anything external to ourselves.”
The former vice president and 2026 presidential candidate continued her long-winded response, imploring Americans not to lose sight of their vision of the future when faced with political or personal loss.
“And when we feel that and and and not allow an election or an individual to dampen that light, and instead light, let that light kind of carry us in particular through moments of darkness, that that we not only act on that hope, but we inspire that hope in each other,” Harris added.
“And, in particular, at this moment, it is so important that we not only have hope, but that we understand that that should be a verb.”
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she attends a dedication ceremony for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., June 18, 2026. REUTERS Harris’ seemingly meandering answer quickly gained traction on social media, with critics blasting the former vice president.
“Good word salad answer that can be summed up in two words: stay positive,” one user wrote on X.
“When the teacher told you to write a 300-word essay but you could only think of 100 words,” another poster said.
Others pointed out that the word is already defined as both a verb and a noun.
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a dedication ceremony for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., June 18, 2026. REUTERS “It’s a noun: ‘I have hope that she never runs for any government office again,’” a user posted to X. “And it is a verb: ‘I hope she never runs for any government office again.’”
Lemon asked Harris whether she is planning to run for the country’s highest office again in 2028.
“I have not decided, to be honest with you,” Harris replied, notably not ruling out a potential run.
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“I’ve been spending a lot of time traveling the country [and] listening to folks,” she continued. “I think that people want a leader who is willing to take risks, as opposed to just doing what is popular.
“I think people want to know that they are being seen and heard, and that their leaders — whether they’re at the local, state, federal level or in the White House — are looking first at the people. You know, not looking at themselves in the mirror.”
