The claim: Kamala Harris suggested young people shouldn't have children because of climate change
A July 27 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) by Donald Trump Jr. includes a video of Vice President Kamala Harris being interviewed on stage.
"WATCH: Resurfaced video shows Kamala Harris suggesting that young people should not have children due to climate change," reads the post. "She calls climate anxiety 'the fear of the future and the unknown of whether it makes sense for you to even think about having children.'"
The post was shared more than 1,400 times in nine days. Other posts on Facebook shared the video with the same or similar claims.
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Our rating: False
The video in the post shows Harris defining climate anxiety, not suggesting young people shouldn't have children because of climate change.
Harris talked about climate anxiety among young people, didn't encourage it
The video shows Harris at Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she appeared Sept. 19, 2023, as part of the White House's "Fight for Our Freedoms" college tour.
Harris' visit was one of many she made at colleges across the U.S. to encourage students to advocate for "reproductive freedom, common sense gun safety laws, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality and teaching America’s full history," according to a White House statement.
The 15-second clip in the Facebook post is part of a longer response by Harris to a question about the role of young voters. A recording of the livestreamed event uploaded to YouTube by the White House makes clear that Harris never suggested young people should choose to not have children due to climate change.
To the contrary, after defining the term "climate anxiety," she attempted to offer reassurance by touting the Biden administration's efforts to address climate change.
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"You know, I've heard young leaders talk with me about a term they've coined called 'climate anxiety,' right, which is fear of the future and the unknown, of whether it makes sense for you even to think about having children, whether it makes sense for you to think about aspiring to buy a home because what will this climate be?" Harris said. "But because people voted, we have been able to put in place over a trillion dollars in investment in our country around things like climate resilience and adaptation."
For years, concerns about climate change have played an increasingly significant role for some people – particularly young people – making major life decisions, including where to live and whether to have children. In 2021, The Lancet published the results of a survey that found nearly 60% of people 16 to 25 were "very or extremely worried" about the climate, and almost 40% said they were hesitant to have children.
USA TODAY previously debunked false claims that Harris was "put in charge of the border," that she made a post calling a teen a "racist" and that she said a quote that included 'yesterday was today yesterday.'
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
USA TODAY reached out to Trump, the son of former President Donald Trump, for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- Reading Area Community College, Sept. 19, 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Reading Area Community College
- The White House, Sept. 7, 2023, Vice President Harris Launches Nationwide “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour” to Mobilize Students and Young People in the Fight for Their Rights
- The White House (YouTube), Sept. 19, 2023, Vice President Harris Participates in a "Fight for Our Freedoms" College Tour Moderated Conversation
- USA TODAY, Sept. 20, 2022, Some are students, activists. Some are just worried sick. Climate crisis is all they know.
- USA TODAY, Aug. 12, 2021, Climate anxiety is plaguing young people: What is it? And how can you combat it?
- USA TODAY, March 26, 2019, 'How could I bring a child into the world?': More women say climate change means they won't have kids
- The Lancet, accessed Aug. 5, 2024, Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey
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