Kamala Harris at Met Gala 2025: Social Media Divided Over Democratic Party’s Glam Move

Kamala Harris turned heads at this year’s Met Gala, making a rare public appearance that instantly sparked a social media firestorm. The former vice president, who’s been keeping a notably low profile since her 2024 election defeat, attended fashion’s most exclusive night out as the Democratic Party’s official channels loudly celebrated her look. Let’s just say, the internet had plenty to say about it.

This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” paid tribute to Black dandyism, with the event’s hosts including Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky. The night was dedicated to the role of style in shaping Black identity across the Atlantic diaspora—a bold and meaningful message, no doubt.

The Democratic Party wasted no time posting a glam shot of Harris, announcing, "Kamala Harris stuns at the Met Gala." Reactions came fast and furious. Some wondered if this move was a little tone-deaf, especially given the current economic mood. Journalist Zaid Jilani flat out questioned why the Party’s main account was highlighting this moment, while The Atlantic’s Conor Friedersdorf poked fun at the optics of Democratic leaders mingling with Manhattan’s elite, designer threads and all, in hopes of winning back working-class voters. There’s irony here that practically begs to be meme’d.

Harris, for her part, spoke to Vogue about the power of art to shape culture and policy, emphasizing how artistic expression can capture the mood of a nation. Still, not everyone was buying the message. Political writer Olivia Craighead noted that, while Harris is a vital figure in Black political history, showing up at a star-studded gala might not resonate with Americans worried about tariffs and grocery bills. At least it wasn’t as controversial as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s now-legendary "tax the rich" dress from 2021—a look that still lives rent-free in political Twitter’s mind.

Online critics didn’t hold back on Harris’s outfit either. Chad Felix Greene was left visually perplexed, joking that the dress looked like two women were wearing it at once. Others compared her look to Cruella de Vil (and, to be fair, Lizzo also got the same treatment for her own ensemble). The $75,000 price tag on gala tickets, meanwhile, only fueled accusations of out-of-touch elitism—though, let’s be honest, most celebrities rarely pay their own way.

Even some Democratic voices wondered aloud who exactly the post was meant to impress. Still, Harris had her supporters, with a few liberal influencers applauding her appearance. She’s also set to headline a big-ticket Democratic National Committee fundraiser right after the gala, so clearly, she’s not shying away from the spotlight.

As for the social media circus? Well, it’s the Met Gala—controversy is practically an official sponsor at this point. But if you’re trying to win back the everyman, maybe save the couture for another night.