The debate led to speculation that Kamala Harris had a Bluetooth device designed to resemble jewelry
New Delhi:
The fierce US presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took social media by storm, generating all kinds of reactions ranging from netizens to Taylor Swift and Elon Musk. According to Nielsen data, the debate attracted 67.1 million television viewers.
What followed is a conspiracy theory, mainly from Trump supporters, who claimed that Kamala Harris wore clip-on audio headphones throughout the debate, under the guise of her pearl earrings. It was speculated that her earrings were actually Icebach Sound Solutions’ Nova H1 Audio Earrings, a Bluetooth device designed to resemble jewelry.
In a statement fueling the speculation, Icebach director Malte Iversen reportedly told tech company Tom’s Guide: “We do not know whether Ms. Harris was wearing one of our products. The resemblance is striking.” He also humorously offered to make a male version of the device for Trump, suggesting that the color orange posed a design challenge.
🚨🚨KAMALA HARRIS EXPOSED FOR WEARING EARpiece IN DEBATE *PROOF
She is wearing an earring developed by Nova Audio Earrings that was first seen at CES 2023.
This earring has audio transmission capabilities and acts as a discreet earpiece.
Kamala Harris confirms claims that a… pic.twitter.com/1y60rUdJT0
— ELECTION2024 🇺🇸 (@24ELECTIONS) September 11, 2024
Despite the viral claims, experts and fact-checkers have pointed out that Harris’ actual earrings are the Double Pearl Hinged Earrings from Tiffany & Co. which retail for around $800. These earrings bear little resemblance to Icebach’s Bluetooth devices, which cost about $625.
Harris has previously criticized the use of Bluetooth earphones as a safety risk and has been seen using wired earphones during her campaign. The continued speculation surrounding her jewelry highlights the heightened scrutiny and distrust that often accompanies political debates.
Similar conspiracy theories were spotted on social media during the 2020 and 2016 election cycles, claiming that Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton used earphones during their debates against Trump.
As reported by the New York Post, Icebach Sound Solutions also announced plans to address the rumors during an upcoming appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The company stated on its website that it has received numerous interview requests since the debate and chose Fallon as a “trusted Bavarian through and through” for a live interview.
However, it appears that Donald Trump may not need this offer of similar earphones as he has already declined to have another debate with Kamala Harris. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” the former president wrote on the social media site Truth Social.