In a lively and entertaining exchange on live TV, Vice President Kamala Harris took a hilarious swipe at Donald Trump during a conversation with Oprah Winfrey in Detroit, Michigan. The event quickly went viral as Harris cleverly and humorously addressed the inadequacy of the current support for small businesses, making the audience erupt in laughter. Her comment, which came in response to Oprah’s observation about the $5,000 tax deduction for small business start-ups, was both witty and pointed, serving as a subtle critique of the Trump administration’s approach to economic policy.
“The Concept of a Business”
Harris, known for her quick wit and engaging communication style, was discussing her plan to increase the start-up tax deduction for small businesses from $5,000 to $50,000. She highlighted the absurdity of trying to launch a business with the current deduction amount by laughingly stating, “Nobody can start a small business with $5,000. So that’s part of my plan.”
Oprah, playing along with the humor, responded, “That’s a teeny, tiny business. That’s—that’s a business in tiny, tiny business.” To this, Harris quipped, “The concept of a business,” before bursting into laughter. The audience, recognizing the playful yet pointed jab, joined in with Harris, erupting in laughter and applause.
Kamala Harris: Nobody can start a small business with $5000.
Oprah: That’s a tiny business.
Kamala Harris: A concept of a business, pic.twitter.com/ysaByBmMlh
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 20, 2024
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Her comment was more than just a humorous observation. It was a direct critique of the minimal support provided under previous administrations, including Trump’s, for aspiring entrepreneurs. The phrase “the concept of a business” suggested that the existing $5,000 deduction was so insufficient that it only allowed for the idea of a business rather than a functional, operational entity. It was a clever way to underscore the disconnect between policy rhetoric and the real needs of small business owners.
Connecting the Dots: Trump’s Take on Healthcare and Business
The context of Harris’s joke becomes even more significant when we revisit Trump’s comments on healthcare during a recent debate in Pennsylvania on September 9, 2024. In a somewhat confusing and contradictory statement, Trump defended his approach to Obamacare, explaining why he didn’t fully repeal it during his time in office.
“Obamacare was lousy healthcare. Always was,” Trump said. “It’s not very good today, and what I said, that if we come up with something, we are working on things, we’re gonna do it and we’re gonna replace it.” He continued, “But remember this, I inherited Obamacare because Democrats wouldn’t change it. They wouldn’t vote for it. They were unanimous. They wouldn’t vote to change it. If they would’ve done that, we would’ve had a much better plan than Obamacare.”
Trump’s rambling response continued as he claimed that his administration was working on “concepts of a plan” but provided no details. He said, “If we can come up with a plan that’s going to cost our people, our population, less money and be better health care than Obamacare, then I would absolutely do it. But until then, I’d run it as good as it can be run.”
The parallels between Trump’s vague “concepts of a plan” for healthcare and the insufficient $5,000 “concept of a business” tax deduction were clear. Both represented an idea without substance, a plan without actionable details. It was this lack of specificity and the gap between rhetoric and reality that Harris masterfully highlighted in her exchange with Oprah.
KFF presents itself as “the independent source for health policy research”; they broke down Trump’s actual position based on what they knew:
Trump’s conceptual ACA replacement plan would have repealed the ACA’s premium subsidies and Medicaid expansion, replacing them with a block grant to states. It also would have capped federal Medicaid spending. All told, Trump’s plan would have reduced federal spending on the ACA and Medicaid by over $1 trillion over a decade.
Trump also proposed providing “relief” from the ACA’s “insurance rules and pricing restrictions.”
Trump has long talked about making the ACA less expensive, but the question is less expensive for whom. Trump’s past proposals would certainly have made the ACA less expensive for the federal government, but with the trade-off of higher out-of-pocket premiums for people, more uninsured, and higher spending and greater risk for states.
Public Reaction and Media Commentary
The audience response to Trump’s comments has been mixed, with some expressing frustration over the lack of concrete healthcare solutions and others seeing it as a continuation of his populist rhetoric. Dr. Dennis Scanlon, a health policy expert, commented on Trump’s position in an interview with ABC News, stating:
“I think what’s been noticeable in this election cycle [is] less discussion about the Affordable Care Act in terms of let’s repeal it or get rid of it,” Scanlon said. “I think last night in the debate, [Trump] basically straddled and said, ‘You know, if I can figure out a way to make it better, and we’re working on some concepts, we’ll do it, but not, that we will get rid of it.’ So I think that’s just different from what it’s been in the last two cycles.”
This quote underscores the shift in Trump’s strategy. In previous elections, repealing the Affordable Care Act was a central theme, but now he appears to be backpedaling, suggesting that he would only replace it if a better, less expensive option was available. This lack of a definitive plan contrasts sharply with Harris’s direct and practical proposal to increase support for small businesses.
Jimmy Kimmel just trolled him hard:
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A Stark Contrast
While Trump continues to tout “concepts” without much substance, Harris’s laughter and sharp commentary during her discussion with Oprah reveal a broader frustration with the superficiality of such plans. Her approach, combining humor with policy critique, effectively highlighted the inadequacies of the current support systems in place for both healthcare and small business development.
The public’s response to the exchange was overwhelmingly positive. Social media lit up with praise for Harris’s quick wit and ability to convey a serious message through humor. Many applauded her for speaking directly to the issues that small business owners face, while also taking a playful jab at Trump’s vague policy positions.
As the election season continues, moments like these demonstrate the power of clear, relatable communication. Harris’s ability to use humor to engage with the audience while addressing serious policy shortcomings sets her apart in a political landscape often dominated by convoluted rhetoric and empty promises. And for those of us watching, it’s these candid, unscripted moments that resonate the most, reminding us that sometimes, the best way to highlight a problem is through a good laugh.
Featured image via screengrab
