During her speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, Ana Navarro, a co-host of The View, took the stage and made a passionate appeal for unity, saying America needs a “great big hug.” She also drew a provocative comparison between former President Donald Trump and notorious communist leaders like Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega and the Castro family of Cuba. This comparison comes amidst criticism of Kamala Harris, Trump’s opponent, who has been dubbed “Kamunism” by some due to the Democratic Party’s proposed policies on price controls and wealth redistribution.
Navarro, who fled Nicaragua at the age of eight to escape communism, began her speech by addressing accusations that Harris is a communist. “Donald Trump and his minions call [Vice President] Kamala [Harris] a communist. I know communism. I fled communism from Nicaragua when I was eight years old. I don’t take it lightly,” Navarro stated. She then outlined the tactics of communist dictators, such as attacking the free press, enriching family members through government positions, and refusing to accept election results, all of which she implied were reminiscent of Trump’s actions.
Navarro’s remarks come in the context of ongoing debates over the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to handling disinformation, particularly through the Department of Homeland Security, which some critics argue is a form of suppression.
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MA) has also weighed in on Trump, suggesting that the House of Representatives should prevent him from assuming the presidency if he wins the 2024 election by declaring him disqualified—a statement made before the official election season.
Navarro urged the audience to consider whether Trump’s behavior mirrors that of authoritarian leaders. “Now you tell me something: do any of those things sound familiar? Is there anybody running for president who reminds you of that? And I know one thing, it’s not Kamala Harris,” she asserted.
She emphasized that Harris represents a vision of America that cherishes freedom and democratic values. Navarro described Harris as a “joyful, optimistic leader” who cares deeply about policy and its impact on people’s lives. In a lighter moment, Navarro mentioned that her dog, Chacha, likes Harris, quipping, “We cannot elect a president who does not like dogs or hangs around with people who shoot them,” a possible reference to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s recent autobiography where she admitted to shooting a dog.
Ironically, Trump has labeled the Harris-Walz ticket as “communist,” specifically criticizing Harris’ economic policies as such. The term “Kamunism” even trended on social media platform X following Harris’s release of her plans for price controls across various economic sectors.