Officials say Meena Harris social media posts could interfere with U.S. diplomacy with India

February 10, 2021 Amber28 US 0

burn portraits of Meena Harris, niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Greta Thunberg in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. As the farmers camp out at the edges of the capital, protesting new agricultural laws they say will devastate their earnings, the mainstream and social media have come under unprecedented attacks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Critics say it has used the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech, detaining journalists and freezing Twitter accounts. (AP Photo/Dinesh Joshi)

Residents burn portraits of Meena Harris, niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Greta Thunberg in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. As the farmers camp out at the edges of the capital, protesting new agricultural laws they say will devastate their earnings, the mainstream and social media have come under unprecedented attacks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. (AP Photo/Dinesh Joshi)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:44 PM PT – Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Family members of the Biden-Harris administration have encountered more criticism as the vice president’s 36-year-old niece continues to comment on civil unrest in India.

According to a report from the Washington Examiner on Wednesday, State Department officials are concerned Meena Harris’ social media posts could threaten national security and complicate the U.S.’s relationship with India.

Meena took to Twitter earlier this week and shared a post calling India’s government a “dictatorship.” This comes as she has voiced disapproval for the Indian government’s treatment of farmers and protesters on several occasions.

Thank you @Trevornoah for using your platform to draw attention to this global workers’ rights issue that has led to police violence, attacks on free speech, and other human rights concerns.

“We cannot take farmers for granted. Nowhere in the world. We need farmers.” https://t.co/sZTS5eetfo

— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 10, 2021

The White House Global Engagement adviser under the Obama administration noted family members of politicians who comment on foreign affairs are often targets of foreign influence operations.

So far, the Biden administration has agreed to work with the Indian government, even supporting the prime minister’s reforms and touting Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage.

Meena’s comments came just after Joe Biden spoke to the prime minister of India on Monday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and unrest in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to face scrutiny as family members engage in foreign affairs despite promises from Biden that relatives will not have foreign influence.