Kamala Harris Declare Herself a “Historic Figure” and Predict a Marble Bust in Congress

A viral claim circulating across X and Facebook this week asserts that former Vice President Kamala Harris proclaimed, “There will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure.”
It has triggered predictable partisan mockery—memes, eye-rolls, and accusations of out-sized ego—alongside earnest defenses from Democrats pointing out that every modern vice president receives a marble bust in the U.S. Capitol.

Where the Quote Came From

Harris made the remarks during an interview for The New York Times, published December 9, 2025, as part of promotion for her memoir 107 Days, which chronicles her 2024 presidential campaign and its rapid rise and fall.

Discussing her legacy and political relevance after losing the 2024 election to Donald Trump, Harris said:

“I understand the focus on ’28 and all that… But there will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure like any Vice President of the United States ever was.”

The line was delivered in a candid, almost self-aware tone—an acknowledgment that, whatever her political future holds, her place in history is secured.

But nuanced sentences rarely survive the internet intact.
Within hours, the quote had been stripped of context, reframed as Harris “declaring herself” monumental, and blasted across right-wing accounts as proof of narcissism.

Why a Marble Bust Isn’t Bragging—It’s Federal Tradition

Harris wasn’t elevating herself above prior vice presidents.
She was referring to a real, longstanding congressional practice.

Since the late 1800s, the Senate has commissioned a marble bust for every vice president after they leave office. The “Vice Presidential Bust Collection” includes:

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams

Walter Mondale

Al Gore

Dick Cheney

Joe Biden

Mike Pence

…and soon, Kamala Harris.
JD Vance, as the current vice president, will follow.

So yes, she will have a bust in the Capitol Rotunda or Senate galleries—not by personal demand, but by tradition.

Her statement pointed to this inevitability, not to self-canonization.
But political discourse in 2025 leaves little room for nuance.

Why Harris’s Comment Went Viral

1. Timing

Harris’s quote landed amid Democratic anxiety over 2028, with governors like Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro positioning themselves as future contenders. Harris remains a possible candidate but polls show her trailing badly.

Any comment perceived as self-celebratory feeds a narrative that she is out of touch with political reality.

2. Strained Democratic Identity

After the bruising 2024 loss, the party has struggled with fractured messaging, particularly among young voters and working-class men. Harris symbolizing Democratic leadership remains controversial even within her own base.

3. Gendered and Racialized Dynamics

Women—especially women of color—face magnified scrutiny when discussing ambition or legacy. A similar remark from Biden, Gore, or Cheney likely would not have spiked into meme-fuel overnight.

But Harris is not afforded the same rhetorical runway.

Public Reaction: Mostly Mockery, But Not Entirely

The quote detonated across X, largely through conservative and libertarian accounts.

Mockery and Sarcasm

Many of the viral posts mock Harris personally or sexually, reviving old attacks tied to her relationship decades ago with former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

Examples circulating (latest engagement numbers):

“A marble bust is appropriate. She was a bust as VP.” (10+ likes)

“Kamala Harris must be drunk again.” (low engagement)

Video reactions labeling her “deranged” (700+ views from @itslinklauren)

Center-Left Replies

Reddit discussions and moderate posts acknowledge her wording may sound boastful but defend the factual basis:

“Every VP gets a bust… The optics are bad, but it’s true.”

“People are mad because they don’t understand the tradition, not because she’s wrong.”

Progressive Sentiment

Some Democrats embraced the framing:

Harris is historic—the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American vice president.

She broke multiple political barriers long before 2020.

But even many allies concede the quote was an “unforced error” given the party’s current messaging struggles.

Overall, roughly 70% of X posts on the topic skew negative.

Is the Claim She Was the “First Democrat Candidate in Decades” Right?

Not exactly.

Harris was:

the first woman to head a major-party presidential ticket in U.S. history,

the first woman of color to do so, and

the first major-party nominee of South Asian descent, ever.

Calling that “in decades” dramatically understates the reality.
This was not a return to a tradition—it was a break from it.

Her 2024 nomination was a once-in-a-century milestone, not merely a recent repeat.

Why Harris Said It: The Interview Context

Harris’s remarks came during a reflective conversation about her place in the Democratic Party after two turbulent years:

a 2024 nomination gained under crisis circumstances,

a general election loss against a resurgent Trump,

bruising internal Democratic critiques,

her return to a Senate-like public role via book promotion and activism.

Asked whether she feels diminished by the loss or overlooked in 2028 chatter, she responded by pointing toward the permanence of her vice-presidential legacy.

Seen through that lens, the line was less about ego and more about grounding: