Harris calls Trump a 'tyrant,' slams 'feckless' CEOs in MSNBC interview ahead of memoir release

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, in an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Monday, described Donald Trump as a "tyrant" and criticized American CEOs for capitulating to his agenda, saying they have been silent while democracy is under pressure. During the conversation, she argued that private sector leaders should act as guardrails for democratic institutions, saying, "And one by one by one, they have been silent. They have been, you know, yes, I use the word feckless." The remarks reflect Harris's broader critique of corporate silence as political fault lines widen in the aftermath of the 2024 campaign season.

She framed the economic system as inseparable from democratic governance, asserting that capitalism thrives under robust democratic norms. Harris told Maddow, "Democracy sustains capitalism. Capitalism thrives in a democracy. And right now, we are dealing with – as I called him at my speech on the ellipse – a tyrant." The exchange underscored her argument that the private sector cannot abdicate its responsibility to civic health when institutions are being tested by a leader she described as using the federal government to push his personal agenda.

The interview also touched on the political risk for business leaders who choose to speak out. Harris acknowledged the hesitancy to challenge the president, noting that Trump’s administration has pursued critics. Yet she pressed corporate leaders to act for the sake of the people who rely on the integrity of these institutions. "But at some point, they’ve got to stand up for the sake of the people who rely on all of these institutions to have integrity and to at some point be the guardrails against a tyrant who is using the federal government to execute his whim and fancy because of a fragile ego," Harris said.

The Monday broadcast came a day before the release of her new memoir, "107 Days," which recounts her tumultuous experience replacing former President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee after he dropped out of the race in 2024. The book is positioned to offer a insider’s account of the late-stage primary dynamics and the ensuing political realignment that followed the election.

Resources from Fox News accompanying the piece highlighted Harris at public events during the period, including appearances tied to the party’s outreach work and public-facing campaigns. The reporting also included photo imagery from Harris’s public appearances in San Francisco, illustrating her ongoing role in Democratic organizing and advocacy as the party recalibrates after last year’s contest. The interview with Maddow is part of a broader media push around Harris’s evolving stance on democracy, capitalism, and the responsibilities of private industry in safeguarding democratic norms in the United States.

In discussing the state of American politics, Harris did not shy away from linking rhetoric to consequences. She framed the moment as a test of institutional resilience, arguing that the durability of American democracy hinges on whether leaders—from the executive branch to corporate boardrooms—choose to defend the guardrails that keep government accountable. While she acknowledged the challenges of dissent in a political environment where critics face scrutiny, she maintained that speaking up is essential to preserving democratic norms and the legitimate operations of market capitalism within a free society.

The interview and Harris’s forthcoming memoir arrive at a time of heightened attention to the dynamics between political leadership, business interests, and public trust. Whether her call for corporate accountability will translate into tangible shifts in business leadership remains a focal point for observers of US politics as the country continues to grapple with questions about the balance between market forces and democratic safeguards.