Photomontage or phrases about Ukraine, these conspiracy theories targeting Kamala Harris on social networks

Her integrity, her citizenship, her knowledge of the issues are being questioned… The vice-president, who has not yet been officially designated as a candidate by the Democratic Party, is already the victim of a smear campaign on social networks.

Even before being officially nominated by the Democratic Party to replace Joe Biden, Kamala Harris is entering the campaign at a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday, July 23. Not yet a candidate, the vice president is already the subject of false advertising in the media from the Trump camp. The former senator from California is also the target of several conspiracy theories.

A photomontage with Jeffrey Epstein’s face

Among the baseless accusations that Kamala Harris has been subjected to on social media is her alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. A widely shared photo on the X-rated network shows a smiling Kamala Harris posing alongside the businessman accused of crimes and sex trafficking (who committed suicide in prison before being tried).

In reality, it is a montage, as demonstrated by BBC journalists. In the original photo, which dates from 2015, Kamala Harris poses next to her husband, Douglas Emhoff. Her husband’s face has simply been replaced by that of Epstein, rather crudely, moreover. This doctored photo had already circulated in 2021 before being exhumed more recently by pro-Trump accounts. French Internet users are also seizing on it to try to denigrate the Democratic candidate and the political figures who support her in France.

The theory of unconstitutional candidacy

Another piece of false information about the vice president: Kamala Harris could not run for the White House because her parents are foreigners. This would be, according to some Internet users, contrary to the American constitution.

This argument is false. Kamala Harris’ father was born in Jamaica and her mother was born in India. But this has no bearing on her constitutional right to become president. According to Article 2 (Section 2) of the US Constitution, there are two criteria for becoming president: being born an American and being at least 35 years old. Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California 59 years ago and is a natural-born American citizen. Therefore, she is legitimately eligible to run.

A sentence about Ukraine taken out of context

In March 2022, Kamala Harris was a guest on the radio show “The Morning Hustle” and he is asked to summarize the war in Ukraine in very simple terms, for an audience that knows nothing about the issue. “Ukraine is a European country, she explains to the listeners. He is located next to another country called Russia. A bigger, more powerful country. Russia has decided to invade Ukraine. It’s just wrong.”