Once-GOP Star Sarah Palin Has One Word to Describe Kamala Harris

Once a prominent figure in American politics, Sarah Palin has largely faded from the national stage.

From her vice presidential run to her reality TV stints, she seemed unstoppable.

But these days, it feels like she’s fallen off the political map entirely, leaving many wondering what happened to the woman who once energized the GOP.

Where is Sarah Palin Now?

Though Palin isn’t currently in office, she’s outspoken about her political views on the 2024 presidential election and her endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

In a recent interview with Al Arabiya News‘ Rosanna Lockwood, Palin expressed concerns about Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. While Palin believes it’s time for a female president, she argues Harris is not the right choice.

Palin described Harris as a “puppet” who is “controlled not by her own convictions, experience, or vision for the world, but rather by globalists and communists seeking to manipulate her and the people.”

She also suggested Harris was a convenient choice for the Democratic Party, noting she never won a primary and lacks the experience and preparedness of previous Democratic candidates.

“I think for decades there have been the Uni Party, the globalists, who want to control the people and take away individual rights but it’s being really made manifest much more aggressively and clearly as of late with a candidate like Kamala,” Palin said in the interview.

Newsweek contacted Palin for comment.

Sarah Palin’s Political Career

From 2006 to 2009, she served as the governor of Alaska, becoming the first woman to hold that position. She gained national prominence as the Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 U.S. election and became known for her strong conservative views.

Her candidacy alongside Senator John McCain in 2008 drew widespread attention due to her folksy, populist style and controversial statements, even though the McCain-Palin ticket ultimately lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Palin briefly returned to the political scene in 2022, running for Alaska’s congressional seat in a special election, but she was defeated.

Newsweek spoke to Louis Perron, a PhD political consultant with a track record of winning elections in multiple countries. He said Palin made two unsuccessful bids for Congress in 2022, a rarity for a former vice presidential candidate.

“She was out of politics for more than 10 years,” Perron said. “Maybe she saw an opening, but then, she lost twice. After the first loss, there should have been a brutally honest post mortem to make sure not to repeat mistakes.”

In Perron’s book Beat the Incumbent, a chapter titled “Should I Stay or Should I Go” explores the pivotal decision of whether to run for office. He shared with Newsweek he has devoted considerable time to discussing career moves with politicians.

“Many factors come into play: personal desire and ambition, the competition, career planning, fundraising,” Perron said. “In her case, she’s not a young politician who just wants to try it out and run. After all these years, I would have given it very serious consideration.”

Perron told Newsweek when a well-known individual is rumored to be running for office, many people will encourage them to do so, often because they believe it’s what the individual wants to hear.

However, he has advised some candidates against running after conducting thorough market research. Among those individuals was a seasoned politician from Switzerland, who became one of his biggest supporters. They appreciated the time, money and potential embarrassment they avoided thanks to his guidance.

Palin’s Run As Vice President

Palin became the second woman nominated for vice president by a major U.S. political party, following Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to receive such a nomination. Ferraro served as the Democratic nominee in 1984, running alongside presidential candidate Walter Mondale.

Palin advocated for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil exploration and supported expanding offshore drilling. Her administration also backed the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope to the continental U.S.

Palin prioritized cutting government spending and vetoing numerous state projects to maintain a balanced budget. She also led a push for ethics reform, targeting corruption within Alaska’s oil industry and promoting transparency in government.

On social issues, Palin maintained a strong pro-life stance, opposing abortion except when the mother’s life was at risk. She was also a vocal advocate for Second Amendment rights, supporting gun ownership.

A critic of the Affordable Care Act, Palin opposed government mandates in health care, favoring market-based reforms. In education, she backed school choice, homeschooling, and local control, opposing federal overreach in schools.

The McCain-Palin ticket ultimately lost to the Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the general election, securing 45.7% of the popular vote compared to the Democrats’ 53.4%.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com