Vice President Kamala Harris’s close relationship with Dr. Amos Brown, the pastor of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church, has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that he made incendiary comments blaming the United States for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. This mirrors a similar situation involving then-Senator Barack Obama and his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who made similar remarks about the 9/11 attacks.
Dr. Amos Brown’s comments were so provocative that Democratic politicians reportedly left the room during his sermon at a memorial service for victims of the 9/11 terror attacks. Other attendees felt compelled to respond immediately, with some expressing their disapproval and others voicing support for the pastor.
Harris and Brown have known each other for nearly a quarter-century, with their friendship remaining strong throughout her tenure as Vice President. In 2023, Harris posted a picture of the two on her Instagram account, describing Brown as “an inspiration to me always.” The close relationship between the two has raised questions about whether Harris shares some of Brown’s views on the United States and its role in global events.
At a memorial service for victims of the 9/11 terror attacks held just six days after al Qaeda murdered nearly 3,000 Americans, Brown used the occasion to lay blame at the United States’ feet. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, these remarks “set a lot of people’s teeth on edge” and “left politicians stunned.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to Brown’s comments by emphasizing that “the act of terrorism on Sept. 11 put those people outside the order of civilized behavior, and we will not take responsibility for that.” Pelosi’s statement was met with applause from some attendees but also criticism from others, who felt it did not go far enough in addressing Brown’s remarks.
The parallels between Dr. Amos Brown and Reverend Jeremiah Wright are striking. Wright infamously preached that “9/11 was America’s chickens … coming home to roost,” and declared “God damn America.” Obama, who embraced Christianity in Wright’s church, married his wife there, had his children baptized there, and even named his second memoir, “The Audacity of Hope,” after one of Wright’s sermons. He initially defended Wright but later distanced himself from the pastor.
The relationship between Kamala Harris and Dr. Amos Brown raises questions about whether she shares some of his views on the United States and its role in global events, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict with terror groups such as al Qaeda and ISIS. As both a political figure and a person of faith, Harris must navigate these complex issues carefully, balancing her commitment to public service with her personal beliefs and connections to influential religious figures like Dr. Amos Brown.