While Kamala Harris has ascended to one of the highest offices in the United States, the spotlight has also turned to her family, including her father, Donald Harris. This article delves into the relationship between Vice President Kamala Harris and her father, exploring its complexities and current status.
Donald Harris, an economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, initially showed support for his daughter’s political career. After Kamala Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016, Dr. Harris extended his congratulations. This support continued as she launched her presidential campaign in 2019, with Dr. Harris offering advice on economic policy.
However, their relationship encountered a public rift when Kamala Harris, during a radio interview, expressed support for marijuana legalization, humorously adding, “Half my family’s from Jamaica, are you kidding me?” This remark triggered a strong reaction from her father.
Dr. Harris publicly denounced his daughter’s statement as promoting a “fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker.” Sources close to Dr. Harris indicated that he was deeply offended by what he perceived as an embarrassing portrayal of their Jamaican heritage. This public disagreement marked a significant cooling in their relationship.
Despite the strain, there were brief periods of reconnection. Following Kamala Harris’s selection as Joe Biden’s running mate in 2020, her father sent another congratulatory letter. He was also invited to her inauguration, although the invitation came through an intermediary rather than directly from Kamala Harris, and he ultimately declined to attend.
Currently, sources close to Donald Harris suggest that he does not frequently dwell on the distance between him and his daughter. At around eighty-five years old, his health is reportedly good, with the exception of ongoing issues related to a past eye injury. He remains active, enjoying his silver Corvette and life outside of the political arena. He has been married to Carol Kirlew, also of Jamaican-American heritage, for approximately thirty years.
In conclusion, while Donald Harris played a role in Kamala Harris’s life, their relationship is characterized by periods of both support and significant estrangement, particularly highlighted by public disagreements and limited direct engagement in recent years. He appears to be living a private life, separate from his daughter’s prominent political career.
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