A CNN reporter recently asked a young boy what he thought of Kamala Harris, and his one-word response [1] quickly became a viral sensation.
The network, aiming to gather children’s thoughts on the upcoming 2024 election, received an unexpected answer when the boy replied with, “Liar!” after being asked what word came to mind when he heard Harris’ name.
CNN’s segment was part of a broader project that involved interviewing over 80 elementary school students from states like Arizona, New Jersey, and Texas.
The goal was to capture insights into how children perceive current political figures, including Kamala and former President Donald Trump.
However, the candid responses from the kids—many of which did not align with the network’s expectations—quickly caught viewers’ attention.
The project, which sought to explore how children are influenced by their environment and family when forming political opinions, involved researchers from Arizona State University and Stanford University.
Ashley Landrum and Shanto Iyengar, who were part of the study, focused on the political views of children based on their geographical location and familial leanings.
In blue states, such as New Jersey, children tended to express more favorable views of Harris, with some calling her “inspiring.”
However, in red states like Texas, the responses were much different, with many children giving positive remarks about Trump. One child exclaimed, “Go America!” in reference to the former president.
Other children, despite some acknowledging Trump’s controversies, still believed he deserved to run for office. One child remarked, “Even though Trump has done bad stuff, he still deserves to run for president.”
While the responses varied, the study highlighted how closely children’s opinions often mirror those of their parents.
In blue states, many kids expressed negative views of Trump, with some going as far as comparing him to historical figures like Adolf Hitler.
In contrast, children from conservative households offered more nuanced perspectives, often focusing on Trump’s policies and accomplishments rather than his controversies.
The mixed opinions on Harris also reflected the divided political landscape. While some children from Democrat-leaning families found her to be inspiring, others, particularly from red states, were more critical of her, with the boy’s blunt response of “Liar!” encapsulating a growing sentiment among many conservative households.
Watch the video:
Kid is asked “what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Kamala Harris?”
Without skipping a beat: LIAR.
Even the kids see through her bullshit.pic.twitter.com/txmF93qHn7 [2]
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) September 26, 2024 [3]
The CNN project offered a snapshot of how political views are passed down from generation to generation, with children adopting many of the opinions held by their parents.
As the 2024 election approaches, these insights highlight the continuing political divide in America and the early influence politics has on younger generations.
As the viral moment continued to circulate on social media, it further underscored the importance of family and community influence in shaping political opinions—even in children.