Kamala Harris Faces Bipartisan Criticism After Colbert Interview: “No Clear Message, No Direction”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is under fire from both sides of the political aisle following her recent appearance on The Late Show, marking her first major media presence since stepping back from the national spotlight. The interview, which aired just months after her decision not to pursue the California governorship, has sparked a wave of confusion, criticism, and concern over her political future and the Democratic Party’s direction.

Harris’ sit-down with ousted host Stephen Colbert was expected to provide clarity on her next steps and reflections on the 2024 election cycle, in which Democrats suffered heavy losses. Instead, many viewers and analysts found her comments vague, evasive, and at times incoherent. Some social media users even speculated about her state during the interview, questioning whether she was fully present or possibly under the influence—though such claims remain unsubstantiated and largely speculative.

In the segment, Harris attempted to explain her decision to stay out of the gubernatorial race, saying, “Just for now, I don’t want to go back in the system. I think it’s broken.” The remark drew immediate scrutiny for its lack of specificity.

Critics from across the political spectrum seized on what they saw as an opportunity missed. On CNN, NOTUS White House Correspondent Jasmine Wright, who had closely covered Harris during her vice presidency and 2024 campaign, expressed disappointment in Harris’ failure to articulate any concrete plans or take accountability.

“She’s had six months to figure out what she wants to say, and she still hasn’t delivered a single clear solution,” Wright said. “People are tired of ambiguous phrases like ‘the system.’ What does that even mean? Is it the electoral system? The state government? The Democratic Party infrastructure?”

CNN’s Manu Raju echoed the sentiment, adding, “She hasn’t said anything meaningful in months. That appearance didn’t change that.”

The criticism wasn’t limited to Harris as an individual but extended to the Democratic Party more broadly. CNN senior political analyst Aaron Blake said the party is struggling with a coherent message—and Harris’ vague answers only reflect that larger problem.

“There’s no one consistently shaping the narrative for the Democrats right now,” Blake said. “They show up in bursts, say ‘things are bad,’ and then disappear. There’s no sustained messaging, and without a visible, articulate leader, that’s not going to change.”

Raju noted that Harris’ tone and posture also contributed to the perception that she remains unwilling to speak candidly. “I expected more vulnerability, more reflection,” he said. “She’s not running for office at the moment. This was a chance to open up and lead with authenticity—but she stayed guarded.”

Adding to the chorus of disappointment was AP White House reporter Michelle Price, who criticized Harris’ delivery and physical demeanor.

“She looked physically tense throughout the entire interview—shoulders up, stiff posture. It gave the impression she was uncomfortable and overly rehearsed, which is surprising given that she has nothing to lose politically right now,” Price said. “She could have used that moment to be bold, but instead it came across as another robotic performance.”

Price also emphasized the lack of any forward-looking message in Harris’ words. “There was no call to action, no vision for the future—just a vague lament about how things fell apart.”

Harris’ choice to remain cryptic about what exactly went wrong in 2024 was also seen as a missed opportunity. Many expected her to take some responsibility or at least reflect on the Democratic Party’s loss of momentum.

“She owes it to the people, and to the party, to be honest about what happened last year,” Wright said. “What went wrong in her campaign? What went wrong in the messaging? Why did voters tune out? These are questions she could have begun to answer.”

As the Democratic Party looks to rebuild after a bruising election year, Harris’ performance on Colbert has left many wondering whether she will play any role in shaping that future—or whether she has faded into political ambiguity.

For now, the former vice president remains a figure caught between roles: no longer in office, not running for one, and still searching for a message.