Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
And no, Kamala Harris does not want people to stop saying “Merry Christmas.”
MAGA pages on social media are circulating a video of Vice-President Kamala Harris saying, “How dare we speak ‘Merry Christmas.’ How dare we?”
It’s entirely taken out of context.
KAMALA HARRIS: “How DARE we say Merry Christmas!”
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 1, 2024
This woman hates everything America stands for. pic.twitter.com/Sa42DTtXJ9
In December 2017, then-Senator Kamala Harris gave a speech at a press conference advocating for the passage of the DREAM Act, which would have provided a pathway to citizenship for some immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children. During this speech, Harris said: “And when we all sing happy tunes and sing ‘Merry Christmas’ and wish each other ‘Merry Christmas,’ these children are not going to have a ‘Merry Christmas.’ How dare we speak ‘Merry Christmas.’ How dare we? They will not have a ‘Merry Christmas.'”
Harris was not expressing opposition to the phrase itself. Rather, she was making a moral argument about the urgency of protecting immigrant children and passing legislative safeguards quickly. And contrary to the misinterpretation, there is no evidence that Harris opposes Christmas or the phrase “Merry Christmas.”
In fact: Harris has consistently posted “Merry Christmas” wishes on her social media accounts from 2017 to 2024.
And in 2017, Fox News even republished the video with the headline: “Flashback: Harris told Americans not to say ‘Merry Christmas’ until DACA was fixed.”
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. We wish you a holiday full of love, peace, and light. pic.twitter.com/BfFrY1Zhbb
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 25, 2024
Her 2023 Christmas Instagram post read, “Merry Christmas to all. May your day be filled with love, family, and good food.”
Multiple fact-checking organizations have debunked the claim that Harris wants to ban or stop people from saying “Merry Christmas.” PolitiFact rated this claim as “False.”
When MAGA shares information that appears too extraordinary to be true, it often is. It’s crucial to verify the accuracy of such claims by doing a bit of research. With just a little effort, you can usually uncover the truth swiftly and avoid being misled.
In conclusion, the assertion that Kamala Harris wants people to stop saying “Merry Christmas” is a misrepresentation of her 2017 speech and is not supported by her actions or statements regarding the holiday.