In a comical video from December 2021 that recently resurfaced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Vice President Kamala Harris is seen struggling to charge an electric vehicle, providing an amusing yet telling moment about the Biden administration’s push for green energy. The video, which re-emerged in July 2024, captures Harris fumbling with the EV charger cable and laughing awkwardly as she tries to figure out if the vehicle is actually charging.
This incident took place in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where Harris was receiving a briefing on electric vehicles and announcing the Biden administration’s ambitious but flawed electric vehicle charging plan. In the video, Harris can be heard exclaiming, “There’s no sound or fume! How do I know it’s actually working?” as she grapples with the charger.
Adding to the embarrassment, Harris awkwardly linked the rollout of electric vehicles to the deployment of broadband, emphasizing “parity and equity” while attempting to draw lessons from past government initiatives. She stated, “When we think about the rollout of electric vehicles, we have those lessons in mind. Parity and equity and … thinking about communities that usually get overlooked.”
The resurfaced video drew significant attention and ridicule. The Post Millennial account on X highlighted the moment with the caption: “FLASHBACK: Kamala Harris held the cable the entire time while charging an electric vehicle. ‘There’s no sound or fume.'”
The public response was swift and mocking. Comments included, “And this person is the next president potential candidate, great,” and, “Was she trying to ‘squeeze the handle’ to pump ‘juice’ into it?” Another commenter sarcastically asked, “Don’t you hold the cable while charging your phone?”
Despite the blunder, Harris continued her speech about the benefits of electric vehicles, claiming, “The pollution from vehicles powered by fossil fuels has long harmed the health of communities around our country — communities overlooked and underserved. But there is a solution to this problem, and it is parked right behind me. Electric cars, trucks, and buses — they don’t produce tailpipe emissions that irritate the nose and eyes, decrease lung function, and increase susceptibility to respiratory illness.”
She further insisted that putting more electric vehicles on the roads would benefit public health and bolster the economy. Harris proclaimed, “Sales are up, driven by consumer demand. The auto industry is clearly moving toward electric. We need to make the shift faster and make sure it is driven by the United States.”
Harris emphasized the need for domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles and the establishment of a national network of EV chargers. “That means manufacturing millions of electric cars, trucks, and buses right here in our country. That means outfitting thousands of EV — electric vehicle — repair garages, just like this one. And it means installing a national network of EV chargers. When we ask people what is the biggest barrier for them to buy an electric car, the answer is almost always: figuring out where and how to charge it.”
While Harris’s aspirations for a greener future are clear, the video underscores the administration’s struggle to implement its policies effectively. It serves as a reminder that grand plans require not just vision but also practical understanding and execution. As the country watches, the Biden administration’s efforts to push for electric vehicles will be scrutinized not only for their environmental impact but also for their feasibility and execution.