Washington, D.C. – On May 15, 2025, as President Donald Trump navigates the early months of his second term, a wave of sentiment on X reveals a persistent belief among some Americans that Kamala Harris, the former vice president and 2024 Democratic nominee, would have been a far better president. The statement, “Who else agrees that Kamala Harris absolutely, without a doubt, would’ve been a better president?” posted on X, captures a growing frustration among Harris supporters who feel her leadership could have steered the country in a more stable and inclusive direction.
Recent posts on X highlight this sentiment with fervor. Users have praised Harris for her intelligence, empathy, and focus on middle-class issues, qualities they argue Trump lacks. One user described Harris as someone who “cares and loves this country with her whole heart,” emphasizing her thoughtful agenda to ensure everyone could thrive. Another pointed to economic analyses, like a GOBankingRates report from April 2024, which suggested Harris’s economic plan—focused on middle-class tax cuts and addressing price gouging—was superior to Trump’s tariff-heavy approach, now blamed for economic turbulence. A different user called Harris “focused, stable, steady,” contrasting her with Trump’s “chaos agent” leadership, reflecting a desire for a return to “normal Washington politics.”
This sentiment aligns with pre-election views of Harris’s strengths. A September 2024 Pew Research survey found Harris outperforming Trump on personal traits like mental sharpness (61% of voters viewed her as “mentally sharp” compared to 52% for Trump) and on issues like abortion, where 55% of voters trusted her compared to 44% for Trump. Her campaign emphasized an “opportunity economy,” promising to restore abortion rights, address climate change, and raise taxes on the wealthy—positions that resonated with voters prioritizing social equity and long-term solutions, as noted in an NBC News policy comparison from September 2024.
However, Harris’s loss in November 2024, as detailed in a BBC analysis, stemmed from her inability to distance herself from President Joe Biden’s unpopularity, with his approval ratings lingering in the low 40s. Voters, frustrated by inflation and immigration, held Harris accountable for the administration’s record, despite her attempts to carve a distinct path. Political strategist Frank Luntz noted in November 2024 that Harris’s focus on attacking Trump, rather than detailing her own plans, failed to win over undecided voters who craved clarity on her vision.
Critics of the current administration point to Trump’s recent policies—like tariffs causing economic contraction, as Harris warned in a May 1 speech at an Emerge America gala in San Francisco—as evidence she might have been a steadier hand. Her speech criticized Trump’s “reckless” tariffs and his “self-serving vision,” warning of a constitutional crisis, a message that resonates with X users who now lament her defeat. Some also argue that misogyny and racism played a role, with one user on X accusing Trump supporters of voting against Harris due to “misogynistic racism,” a concern echoed in a July 2024 Vox report noting latent biases among voters.
Yet, the narrative isn’t universal. Some on X, including conservative voices, argue Trump’s victory was a “bullet America dodged,” citing Harris’s perceived weaknesses, like her 2020 campaign’s early fizzle, as evidence she wasn’t up to the task. Trump’s base, bolstered by his appeal to working-class voters across ethnic lines—winning 54% of Hispanic men and 20% of Black men, per a Brookings analysis—remains steadfast, viewing his economic deals, like the $1.2 trillion Qatar agreement, as proof of his leadership.
The debate over Harris’s potential presidency underscores a divided America. While her supporters on X mourn a missed opportunity for a leader they see as compassionate and capable, Trump’s second term continues to shape the nation’s trajectory—leaving many to wonder what might have been under a President Harris.
