Investigative Report: No Evidence Kamala Harris Wore Assistive Earphones During Debate with Donald Trump

By Dorrothy Moyo | ZimEye | A series of viral social media posts have baselessly claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris wore earrings containing audio devices to cheat during her debate with former President Donald Trump on September 10 in Philadelphia. However, there is no evidence to support these allegations, which echo similar unfounded claims made against Trump’s previous political opponents.

Background of the Claims

The controversy began when a Sept. 10 Instagram post, which received more than 39,000 likes, alleged, “The earphone earring that Kamala was apparently wearing was created in early 2023.” The post included an image suggesting Harris wore “Nova H1 audio earrings.” Another post declared: “BUSTED! SHE’S WEARING EARPHONE EARRINGS,” featuring photos of Harris’ pearl earrings next to an image of Nova H1 audio earrings. These accusations, however, are not supported by any credible evidence.

Debunking the Claims with Facts

Vice President Kamala Harris at the presidential debate in Philadelphia on Sept. 10. Photo by Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images.

In fact, multiple reputable sources have countered these claims with evidence proving them false:

1. Community Response on Social Media: On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a community note attached to one of the posts clarified, “Rumors are unfounded, Harris wore earrings by Tiffany & Co. that she has worn many times before,” not Nova H1 audio earrings. This crowdsourced note provides direct rebuttal from the online community itself, identifying the earrings as being part of the Tiffany HardWear collection.
2. Fashion Analysis by “What Kamala Wore”: Susan E. Kelley, founder of the blog “What Kamala Wore,” which covers Harris’ fashion and style choices, wrote on September 11 that Harris wore her “South Sea Pearl Earrings from the Tiffany HardWear collection” during the debate. The article includes photos of the earrings Harris wore, which have an open setting below the pearls, distinctively different from the Nova H1 audio earrings seen on the company’s website. Kelley stated, “There was a bizarre narrative being pushed last night claiming the Vice President wore earrings with an audio receiver. I am comfortable stating that was clearly not the case; these are the same Tiffany earrings she has worn for months.”
3. No Evidence of Assistive Devices: The Harris campaign did not provide an official comment on the specific allegations regarding audio-equipped earrings, but previous investigations into similar claims against other political figures have consistently found no evidence of any hidden listening devices. For instance, in 2016, PolitiFact debunked claims that Hillary Clinton wore an earpiece during her debates, and in 2020, similar accusations against Joe Biden were dismissed after closer scrutiny revealed no such device.

Repetition of Unfounded Conspiracy Theories

Claims that political candidates are secretly using assistive audio devices have become a recurring theme in U.S. elections. The New York Times has reported on “The Long History of ‘Hidden Earpiece’ Conspiracy Theories,” noting that such unfounded allegations date back at least to 2000, when Rush Limbaugh claimed Democratic nominee Al Gore used an earpiece for coaching during a television appearance.

PolitiFact, a fact-checking organization, has labeled the current claim against Harris as “Pants on Fire!”—a term used to signify a claim that is blatantly false. Caryn Baird, a PolitiFact researcher, reiterated that there is “no evidence whatsoever” to support the idea that Harris wore any kind of audio device during the debate.

Conclusion: No Basis for the Claims

All available evidence indicates that the claims about Kamala Harris wearing assistive earphones during her debate with Donald Trump are entirely without foundation. Harris wore her familiar Tiffany & Co. pearl earrings, not the Nova H1 audio earrings alleged in viral social media posts. These rumors follow a long pattern of similar unfounded claims that have targeted various candidates in past elections.

Until verifiable evidence is presented, these allegations remain baseless, and social media users are encouraged to scrutinize such claims critically.

Sources Cited:

• Fichera, Angelo. “No Evidence Biden Was ‘Wearing a Wire’ in Debate.” FactCheck.org.
• Kelley, Susan. “Vice President Harris in Familiar Styles for Debate.” What Kamala Wore.
• Roose, Kevin. “The Long History of ‘Hidden Earpiece’ Conspiracy Theories.” New York Times.
• PolitiFact research and analysis.