Fallout of Harris, Trump Debate night in America
Laolu Akande, former Presidential spokesperson, provided a pointed clarification to Elon Musk about the role of vice presidents in a presidential system of government, after US Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump had their first US election debate last night.
The exchange was triggered by Musk’s tweet criticizing US Vice President and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris during and after the U.S. Presidential debate.
Akande who worked as spokesperson to Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (2015-2023) countered by explaining the limited role of vice presidents in policy-making. Akande who worked closely besides the VP under the Buhari administration was apparently speaking from his own experience observing Nigeria’s presidential politics and governance from a front row seat.
He tweeted: “Good point @elonmusk, if you meant that @KamalaHarris won the debate last night, you would be absolutely correct. But to expect VP Harris to be the one calling the shots already in the White House or trying to judge her by what she didn’t do so far as VP—you are then missing the point.”
He emphasized that vice presidents are not responsible for driving policy: “In a presidential system, VPs don’t make policies AT ALL. The best a VP can do is to advise, and that is always behind the scenes.”
Musk had tweeted that while Harris exceeded expectations in the debate, he believed former President Donald Trump would “do a far better job” in executing real change, questioning why Harris hadn’t achieved more, especially since, in his view, President Biden “rarely shows up for work.”
Akande also took the opportunity to highlight the growing popularity of Harris, noting that “many Americans are getting to meet Harris and judging by the polls, more and more of them seem to like what they are finding out.” He even referenced pop star Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement of Harris following the debate, suggesting that Harris’s appeal is broadening beyond political circles.
In contrast, Musk had framed the debate around action versus rhetoric, arguing that Harris had not demonstrated tangible achievements despite being “basically in charge already.” Musk questioned whether Americans wanted to continue with the “current trends” for another four years or opt for a change, alluding to a preference for Trump.
Akande took issue with this characterization, particularly Musk’s suggestion that Harris should already be seen as the de facto leader.
He pointed out that the role of a vice president is fundamentally supportive, not executive, and that Harris, like other vice presidents, is limited in what she can achieve independently.
The former presidential spokesperson also weighed in on the performance of the debate moderators, defending their role in managing the discussion, particularly given the claims made by former President Trump. Akande noted the difficulty of staying silent in the face of “many inaccuracies” and acknowledged the professionalism required in such a setting: “As for the moderators, honestly, it would be such a big task for them to sit down there being professional journalists, listening to many inaccuracies by former President Trump, and just keep silent.”
Musk tweeted, in part, “While I don’t think the debate hosts were fair to @realDonaldTrump, @KamalaHarris exceeded most people’s expectations tonight. That said, when it comes to getting things done, not just saying nice-sounding words, I strongly believe that Trump will do a far better job.”
Akande made his stance clear: “What is clear is that Harris is the better choice in the 2024 US Presidential Elections! On November 5, Americans will make the ultimate decision of who is indeed better. My vote is for Harris/Walz.”
