Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee turned what should have been a serious trip to the southern border into a spectacle of fashion and privilege. Rather than addressing one of the nation’s most pressing crises, she seemed more focused on showcasing her opulence—stepping out at the razor-wire-lined border in Douglas, Arizona, dressed like she was auditioning for a high-end fashion shoot. For a candidate struggling with the perception of being disconnected from middle America, this was a bizarre misstep.
Wearing dark sunglasses, a brown designer jacket over a simple black top, and dark slacks, Harris appeared more like a high-society guest arriving for a photoshoot than a political figure tackling the difficult issue of illegal immigration. However, the $62,000 Tiffany & Co. necklace draped around her neck sparked the most outrage. The vulgar display of wealth in a town of just 17,000 people struggling with the realities of border policy seemed entirely out of touch and tone-deaf.
Critics instantly seized upon the imagery. With a collapsing middle class and the nation’s border security in turmoil, Harris’s focus on accessorising for the occasion struck a nerve. Many saw her attire as a glaring reminder of just how disconnected the Democratic elite has become. “Dems decided to send Kamala Harris out in a $62,000 Tiffany necklace to reassure the middle class that she and the corpse we just saw wheeze through a debate have their best interests at heart!” one incredulous detractor mocked on X.
The disconnect between Harris’s apparent fashion statement and the realities of the border crisis couldn’t have been more striking. Instead of spending time meeting with overwhelmed Border Patrol agents or speaking with residents affected by the chaos, Harris appeared to be preoccupied with projecting a “tough” image—one that rang hollow, given the opulence draped around her neck. “Maybe leave the $60,000.00 Tiffany’s necklace at home when visiting the border,” another commenter quipped. “Respectfully, you look ridiculous & thoroughly removed from what’s right in front of your face. The photo op wasn’t a total loss, though. They got a great shot of that necklace!”
As Trump and his supporters rightly pointed out, Harris’s visit felt more like a staged PR stunt than a serious policy moment. Harris took the opportunity to criticise Trump for “fanning the flames of fear” about immigration, but the former president wasted no time firing back, calling her “totally incompetent.” His critique struck a chord, especially as news broke that over 15,000 illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S. have been either convicted or accused of homicide. Instead of hammering home her plan for tackling such alarming issues, Harris’s focus seemed misplaced, as if the true crisis was how to accessorise under the Arizona sun.
While the media buzzed over the necklace’s suspected $62,000 price tag, Harris’s camp declined to comment—likely fearing further backlash over such an outlandish display of wealth during a trip that should have been about empathy and solutions. And the response from Americans wasn’t kind. “She’s ‘middle class’ but sure does enjoy showing off her $62,000 Tiffany gold necklace!” wrote one frustrated X user, highlighting the stark contrast between Harris’s rhetoric and her lifestyle.
It’s not the first time Harris has been caught playing dress-up rather than focusing on the real issues. After her September 10 debate against Trump, social media users speculated that her earrings were, in fact, cleverly hidden earpiece devices.
For Trump, the incident was a gift. While Harris played dress-up at the border, he continued to hammer home his own stance on securing the nation’s borders. In contrast to Harris’s polished, high-end look, Trump has consistently positioned himself as the candidate who’s willing to get his hands dirty, willing to stand up for law enforcement and put America first—without the designer trinkets.
Harris’s fashion-forward border trip couldn’t have come at a worse time. With Biden’s approval ratings sinking and the administration facing growing pressure over its handling of immigration, this was her chance to show that she’s in tune with the concerns of everyday Americans. Instead, she chose to showcase a symbol of excess and elitism, reinforcing the narrative that Democrats are more interested in style than substance.
The entire fiasco seemed to confirm what many have suspected: Kamala Harris, despite being the “border czar,” is utterly unprepared to handle the job. Her trip to Douglas, Arizona, was supposed to project strength and competence. Instead, it exposed a profound lack of awareness. For voters who see Trump as a no-nonsense leader ready to secure the border and protect the nation, Harris’s glitzy, out-of-place fashion statement was the perfect confirmation that she’s not the person for the job.
So, as the campaign season heats up, Harris’s ill-fated border visit may go down in history—not for the policy positions she laid out, but for one very bad fashion choice. When she should have been showcasing leadership, she instead paraded her privilege. While Trump talks about building walls, Harris is more interested in building her brand. This time, it wasn’t a border crisis she was dealing with—it was a political fashion crisis. And in the end, Trump, without even stepping foot at the border, scored the win.
