United States Vice President Kamala Harris is under fire from religious critics, with some going as far as to label her the “Anti-Christ.” This bizarre accusation has sparked significant debate, and the timing couldn’t be worse for Harris as she battles in a tight race ahead of the 2024 election.
The controversy began at a rally at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where two hecklers interrupted Harris’s speech by shouting “Christ is King” and “Jesus is Lord.” The outburst was in protest of her stance on abortion rights. Harris attempted to brush off the disruption with humor, saying, “You guys are at the wrong rally. I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street.”
While the audience applauded her response, videos of the incident quickly went viral, and some social media users accused Harris of disrespecting Christian values. This led to accusations that Harris is “anti-Christian” and even the “Anti-Christ.”
Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance has seized the opportunity to position Harris as out of touch with religious voters. During his own rally in Wisconsin, Vance was interrupted by a similar religious cry. Instead of dismissing it, he embraced the sentiment, saying, “That’s right. Jesus is King.”
Vance then criticized Harris’s broader approach to public policy, calling her rhetoric “anti-Christian” and accusing her of dismissing the values of religious Americans. He referenced a past incident involving Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who jokingly offered Doritos as communion, calling it sacrilegious.
The attacks against Harris have gone further, with some religious figures accusing her of embodying the “Jezebel spirit”—a biblical reference often used to criticize women who are seen as manipulative or morally corrupt. Christian nationalist leader Lance Wallnau referred to Harris as the “personification of intimidation, seduction, and manipulation,” and even likened Donald Trump to a modern-day “Jehu,” who would overthrow Harris as Jehu did Jezebel in the Bible.
While Wallnau later clarified that he didn’t literally mean Harris was a demon, his remarks have struck a chord with many religious conservatives.
The timing of these religious controversies may damage Harris’s already struggling campaign. Recent polls show her lead narrowing, particularly in key battleground states. Some commentators believe that Harris’s handling of religious issues could alienate critical segments of Christian voters, including Black Christian communities, who have historically been a key demographic for the Democratic Party.
While Harris has made efforts to engage with religious voters, including a visit to Koinonia Christian Center Church in North Carolina, the negative narrative surrounding her could be difficult to overcome.
Political analysts have noted that Harris’s decision to appear on Fox News in an interview with Bret Baier signals possible desperation within her campaign as she tries to rebuild momentum. With Election Day approaching and the religious attacks intensifying, only time will tell if this controversy will have a lasting impact on her chances at the presidency.
