Former Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism over a somber Fourth of July message and a photo that cropped out President Biden. In her X post, Harris wrote, “Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse,” prompting backlash for its tone and timing.

The photo, taken during the 2024 fireworks celebration, showed Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff — with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden cropped out, sparking speculation and mockery online. Critics, including GOP figures, accused her of political opportunism and poor messaging. Since her 2024 election loss to Donald Trump, Harris has kept a low profile, avoiding direct references to Trump in recent speeches. Public polling shows declining support for Harris among Democrats, with Emerson College reporting only 13% favor her for the 2028 nomination. Donor enthusiasm for a potential California gubernatorial run also appears to be fading. Allies say she’ll decide her political future by summer’s end, but doubts remain about her viability in either a national or state-level race.