Last night, the first presidential debate of this year’s U.S. election took place between President Trump and Kamala Harris.
The 90-minute debate left many with the impression that Harris appeared vibrant and youthful, making the tug-of-war seem almost unfair to Trump.
Throughout the heated exchanges, Trump delivered several memorable lines, such as, “Immigrants are eating the neighborhood’s cats and dogs!” and “Harris used to not be black, now she’s black again,” followed by claims that “Democrats support abortion even after a child is born.” The debate moderator was visibly strained, clarifying that executing a child is illegal in every state in the U.S.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris laid out her plans for subsidies for small and medium-sized businesses and her stance on abortion, aiming to appeal to swing voters. According to an instant poll conducted by CNN after the debate, 63% of viewers believed Harris won, while a YouGov poll showed 54% favored Harris, with 14% undecided.
However, the focus quickly shifted post-debate, with Trump supporters zeroing in on Harris’s earrings, questioning if they were actually headphones.
The rumor rapidly gained traction on Reddit’s conspiracy forums.
Despite the similarities—a prominent pearl—the reality is Harris’s earrings are noticeably different from the Nova H1 “smart earrings.”
From the images, it’s evident that Harris’s earrings are shaped as curved circles, each adorned with a pearl. After comparing various photos and videos, it appears they resemble a gold version of a silver earring by Tiffany, which Harris had previously worn at several events.
Here’s a look at the Nova H1 in question:
Launched on Kickstarter in February 2021, the Nova H1 claimed to be the world’s first and only pearl earring headphone, designed to be more than just an accessory.
Although innovative in its design, actually acquiring one appears to be another story.
After their patent was sold, the Nova H1 did make a comeback at the 2023 CES, with an official price tag of around $745. Yet, the dangling parts seen are the wearer’s own earrings, separate from the Nova H1.
Further, the Nova H1 lacks voice control and must be adjusted from a phone, differing from initial marketing claims. By the 2024 CES, it was no longer available for direct customer purchase—potential buyers might have to scour eBay for second-hand options.
The idea of modifying a Nova H1 to look like Tiffany’s seems impractical. Despite most electronic components being housed within the pearl, the battery remains in the base, which wouldn’t fit inside Harris’s earrings.