Kamala Harris Defended by Stepfamily Amid Personal Attacks on ‘Childless’ Criticism
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Since entering politics, Kamala Harris has faced relentless criticism, including sexist jabs, racial slurs, and more recently, attacks on her personal life for being “childless.” As she runs for president, these critiques have intensified, with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders being one of the latest to take aim.
However, Harris has found a strong defender in her husband Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff. Kerstin recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Sanders’ remarks made at a Donald Trump rally in Flint, Michigan. Sanders commented, “You can walk into a room like this where people cheer when you step onto the stage, and you might think for a second that you’re kind of special, according to Newsweek.
Then you go home, and your kids remind you very quickly you’re actually not that big of a deal.” She then added, “So my kids keep me humble. Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.”
According to ABC News, In response, Kerstin shared a video of Sanders’ speech and countered, “Cole and Ella keep us inspired to make the world a better place. I do it through storytelling. Kamala Harris has spent her entire career working for the people, ALL families. That keeps you pretty humble.” Harris, while not having biological children, is a proud stepmother to Doug’s two children, Ella and Cole, from his previous marriage.
Earlier this year, Kerstin emphasized Harris’ role in their blended family, stating, “For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and me. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present.”
In addition to Kerstin’s support, Ella, Harris’ stepdaughter, also defended her on Instagram. “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and me?” she playfully wrote, adding another layer to the defense against those targeting Harris’ personal life.
According to HuffPost, Meanwhile, Harris has faced additional criticism from conservative figures. Will Chamberlain, Senior Counsel for conservative initiatives, took to X to argue that Harris shouldn’t be president because she has no biological children. “The concerns of parents and families will always be abstract to her,” he claimed.
Ironically, Sanders has faced her own backlash for signing a controversial law that removed child labor protections in Arkansas. The law, which she signed last year, eliminated the requirement for work permits for children under 16, drawing criticism for jeopardizing children’s safety. Despite the attacks, Harris’ stepfamily continues to stand by her, emphasizing the strength and unity of their blended family.
