Kamala Harris Tried to Warn Folks, So This 'I Told You So' Was Earned

She said she didn't want to say it. But then she kind of did?

“There were many things we knew were gonna happen," said former Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris, who added, "I’m not gonna say ‘I told you so,’” with a signature chuckle.

But she did because it was warranted. Just that same day, the current administration announced stiff tariffs on goods from multiple countries, starting at 10 percent. Those affected include everything from goods from China to the European Union. It even included a few islands that have nothing but penguins on them, all of this essentially causing markets to flounder and fears of a $2,300 iPhone to surface. Many critics on the left and right pointed out that this unnecessary trade war could destroy the world economy.

Harris was speaking at the Leading Women Defined Summit in Laguna Nigel, Calif. on Thursday as part of its luncheon program — which already had some "breaking news" before the former vice president took the stage.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who was seated next to me at the luncheon, had told our table she planned to run for governor of Georgia in 2026. As a result, during a portion of the lunch where we talked about what our peers at our tables had to give or needed help with, I took the mic at the last minute, said I had "breaking news," and announced that Lance Bottoms was planning a run. This caused the room to erupt in applause and a standing ovation for their fellow summit goer, moving Lance Bottoms to tears.

Everyone was still high off that moment when LWD founder and former CEO of BET Networks Debra Lee took the stage to tease her "surprise" for the luncheon, who hailed from Oakland. Immediately, murmurs ruptured through the audience. Could it be the former Vice President?

Then Harris walked in, in all her tan-suited glory, and a crowd, already primed for excitement, lept to their feet and showed the former veep some love.

After Harris thanked the audience for their support (Harris previously addressed LWD at their summit in 2016), she spoke on the unchanging bond between Black women in the face of opposition.

“What has not changed is our sisterhood,” she said. “What has not changed is our understanding of the great shoulders upon which we stand — and the great shoulders we possess.”

Harris also addressed the current political environment.

“We are seeing people stay quiet. We are seeing organizations stay quiet. We are seeing capitulation to clearly unconstitutional threats,” said Harris, who added. “Fear is contagious… but courage is contagious too.”

Watch Harris' address to the audience at LWD below:

LWD is an annual retreat for women leaders of color, founded by Lee when she was still at BET. She said she created the event to have fellowship and connections with other women in the C-suite and other leadership positions, as she — like many of us who managed to crack the glass ceiling — found leadership to be isolating and lonely.

I started attending LWD in 2018 when I was the then editor-in-chief of the leading African American news site The Root. Every year I've attended has been exciting, newsmaking, and personally valuable, even the very first one I attended, which opened with former First Lady Michelle Obama — and just a smidge of "on the record, off the record" drama.

Considering this all happened during the first full day of programming, it'll be quite interesting to see what else unfolds by the time the weekend ends. Will more news get broken? Stay tuned!