Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism for an awkward moment in an interview with Muslim influencer Kareem Rahma, where she praised bacon as “a spice”—an odd choice considering Rahma’s faith-based dietary restrictions.
Harris, sat down with Rahma, the host of “Subway Takes,” a TikTok and Instagram show where guests defend unusual viewpoints.
The interview, recorded last summer, was never aired, but details emerged recently through a report by the New York Times.
Initially, Rahma was informed that Harris would discuss her stance against removing shoes on airplanes. However, as the interview began, Harris unexpectedly announced her defense of “bacon as a spice,” causing a pause in the exchange.
Rahma, who refrains from pork as part of his religious observance, appeared uncertain, reportedly responding, “I don’t know.” Harris then explained that bacon “enhances flavor” in bland dishes. “Think about it, it’s pure flavor,” she said, trying to sell her point.
The awkward exchange prompted Rahma to redirect the conversation, asking to return to the original topic. Harris instead shifted to her preference for anchovies on pizza, leading Rahma to conclude the interview by saying, “I’m 100 percent unsure on both of those.”
Rahma later expressed mixed feelings about the interview, revealing he was already apprehensive about speaking with the vice president due to her administration’s stance on international issues.
“It was complicated because I’m Muslim, and there’s something going on in the world that 100 percent of Muslims care about,” he told the New York Times, referring to the Harris-Biden administration’s support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza.
He added that Harris’ unexpected detour into “bacon and anchovies” felt irrelevant and disconnected. “Boring!” he remarked.
With a combined following of over 928,000 on TikTok and Instagram, Rahma’s influence is considerable, and he has since shared his feelings about being thrust into a political space he never intended to enter.
“I never wanted to be a politics person,” he said, admitting that the more he reflects on it, the more he feels like he “got lucky” to avoid airing the interview.
Two Harris campaign officials told the Times that Rahma had been briefed in advance that the conversation would focus on pork rather than policy—a claim Rahma and his manager dispute. Neither Harris’ campaign nor Rahma’s team offered further comment.