Fact Check: Did Kamala Harris really joke about 'killing' Donald Trump?

WASHINGTON, DC: Critics resurrected an old video of Vice President Kamala Harris accusing her of joking about "killing" Donald Trump after the second assassination attempt against the former president.

A 2018 clip from the Democratic vice presidential nominee's appearance on the 'Ellen' show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, where the then-senator gave a playful reply to a question about Trump and his former Vice President Mike Pence, prompted the critics to make the claim. 

Critics accuse Kamala Harris of joking about killing Donald Trump after assassination bid

Donald Trump faced another threat to his life on Sunday, September 15, while playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, after the Secret Service agents spotted a shooter taking aim at the real estate mogul. This provoked the critics to revive the 2018 clip.

Conservative internet personality Benny Johnson reposted the old video that Trump's campaign first shared in August 2020 on X (formerly Twitter).

"Kamala Harris openly joked about assassinating President Trump in 2018 as an audience of lobotomized clapping seals cheered," Johnson wrote. "And you’re wondering how we ended up here?"

Tom Fitton, president of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, tweeted, "Not funny, then or now."

The conservative backlash erupted as Trump was targeted for a second time after a narrow escape from an assassination attempt during a Pennsylvania rally in July. At the time, one of the bullets pierced his ear.

The suspect, Ryan Routh, was arrested shortly after, and the FBI launched an investigation into the matter, deeming it "an attempted assassination of former President Trump."

Critics make false claim about Kamala Harris joking about 'killing' Donald Trump

Kamala Harris' conversation with Ellen DeGeneres concludes that the critics misinterpreted what the vice president said about Donald Trump because she never mentioned anything about "killing" anyone.

"If you had to be stuck on an elevator with either President Trump, [Vice President] Mike Pence or [Attorney General] Jeff Sessions, who would it be?" DeGeneres asked Harris when she sat for the interview in April 2018.

The incumbent VP, who was the US Senator from California at the time, offered a funny reply as an answer.

"Does one of us have to come out alive?" Harris asked and laughed out loud.

In the nearly 20-second clip, she did not make any remarks on a threat to Trump's life, who was the POTUS then. Neither did it have any reference to assassination.

In light of the second assassination attempt against the 45th president, the clip went viral again, leading many to misinterpret that Harris was jokingly suggesting an end to Trump's life.

The clip was previously also shared widely on multiple occasions.

It was first posted by the X account 'Trump War Room' in August 2020, with the caption "WATCH: Kamala Harris jokes about killing President Trump and Vice President Pence."

Months later, Fox News host Sean Hannity resurfaced it as per the New York Post.

Responding to the latest threat against her opponent, the vice president issued a statement saying she was "deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump."

"As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence," she added in the statement released by the White House.