Right-wing influencer spreads false claim that Kamala Harris wore an earpiece during the debate

False claims that Vice President Kamala Harris wore clip-on headphones disguised as pearl earrings, circulated after the Presidential debatepromoted by prominent accounts on X and other platforms.

Social media users, including conspiracy theorist and far-right activist Laura Loomer, claimed Harris' earrings were Nova H1 audio earbuds, which look like pearl earrings. Loomer's post received more than 1.3 million views by Wednesday morning.

However, the earbuds don't look like Harris' earrings. A photo from the original product review shows that the Nova H1 earbuds wrap around the earlobe, while Harris' earrings dangle and are designed for pierced earlobes.

The earrings Harris wore appear to be a pair of Tiffany & Co. South Sea pearl earrings from the Hardwear collection. Harris has worn the gold earrings at previous events, including an Aug. 6 rally in Pennsylvania and the Juneteenth concert at the White House this summer.

Earphones are not allowed at presidential debates. At the ABC debate, the candidates were not allowed Bringing notes or props onto the stage. CBS News has reached out to Harris' team about the allegations.

Google data showed searches for “nova h1” and “nova earrings” skyrocketed Wednesday morning. The earrings are touted in a Kickstarter campaign as “the world's first clip-on earphones,” and their developers say the technology is embedded in real pearls that attach to the earlobe to project sound into the ear canal with built-in high-end microphones.

A history of earphone complaints

The claim that Trump's opponent was wearing an earpiece was repeated after several presidential debates. Social media users claimed without evidence that President Biden was wearing an earpiece when he debated Trump at the NBC presidential debate in June.

In 2020, Trump's campaign ran Facebook ads accusing Biden of wearing an earpiece during the September 2020 debate. The allegations were also widely shared on social media. The Biden campaign denied the allegations, and high-quality images from the debate showed that the alleged wires were likely wrinkles in his clothing and a watch or rosary.

In 2016, conspiracy website True Pundit and others falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton wore an earpiece to receive “covert communications” during an NBC News forum. Fact-checkers found these claims to be false.

The claims are not necessarily limited to right-wing conspiracy theories. In 2004, rumors circulated online that a rectangular bulge between then-President George W. Bush's shoulders was a radio receiver owned by strategist Karl Rove. A campaign spokesman later told the New York Times that it was “most likely a fold in that part of his jacket or a crease in the fabric.”