“Kamala Harris Was in Germany, Not Russia” RNC Chair Michael Whatley’s Blunder Sparks Mockery
Michael Wyke / AP Photo
Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley appeared to mix up Germany and Russia during a segment on Fox News Thursday evening, in the middle of a rant attacking Vice President Kamala Harris — now the leading candidate to become the Democratic presidential nominee — for her foreign policy work.
“She’s the one who has, you know, run around the world and not been projecting strength,” said Whatley, who along with former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara was tapped to lead the GOP’s national operation after Trump pushed the old guard out. “We have seen the direct impacts of this. Five days after Kamala Harris was in Russia, they invaded Ukraine.”
The only problem with that: Harris was in Germany, not Russia. Commenters on social media were quick to mock Whatley for his confusion. “They will lie about anything and everything. Kamala Harris was in Germany, not Russia, 5 days before Putin invaded Ukraine. @FoxNews lies,” wrote the account @PauletteParis1.
“So now she’s why Putin invaded Ukraine?” wrote the account @NotoriousRBF. “Fox News just discovered calendars,” wrote the account @TheMikeMorton. “And they still got it wrong.” “The geniuses at Fox News think they figured out why Russia invaded,” wrote the account @therealCoinmon.
“Oh my god, they are so bad at this,” wrote the account @aniamiokay. “OMG they are pathetic,” wrote the account @ChrissyXris. Since taking the position of chairing the RNC, Whatley, who previously served as the head of the North Carolina Republican Party, has been a staunch Trump loyalist.
At one point, he even said his party was prepared to help Trump accept the nomination from prison if he were sentenced and incarcerated for his New York felony conviction prior to the convention. This ultimately did not happen, as the sentencing date was pushed back to September amid a review of how a Supreme Court decision may affect the conviction.
Whatley’s gaffe underscores the heightened scrutiny and intense public reaction surrounding political commentary in the lead-up to the 2024 election. His mistake has not only drawn ridicule but also highlights the broader challenges faced by the GOP in maintaining consistent and accurate messaging.
As the election season heats up, moments like these are likely to become focal points of debate and discussion, with both parties keenly aware of the impact that such errors can have on public perception. For Vice President Harris, Whatley’s mix-up might serve as an unintended boost, as it shifts the narrative towards the missteps of her critics rather than her own policies or actions.
