Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a Christmas reception for her supporters and urged them not to lose hope despite her devastating loss in the 2024 presidential election.
Harris hosted a group of sympathetic activists, consultants, influencers and organizers at a holiday party at the Naval Observatory last weekend.
During a speech to mark the event, Harris urged her supporters not to succumb to defeat, disappointment and depression.
But it quickly derailed into her signature “word salad” gibberish as she droned on about food and the importance of rest.
“Our work continues and so please everyone, look, I know this election wasn’t what we planned, especially now what we wanted, I know there’s a lot of emotion that we’re all feeling right now. I see,” she said with a knowing chuckle video clips published on social media.
“Please, I just have to insist that please don’t let your spirit or your purpose be defeated,” she added.
Harris urged the group in attendance to be grateful for their blessings during the holidays and to rest and regroup for the battles ahead.
She vowed to keep fighting in the new year even as she leaves office on January 20 to make way for newly elected President Donald Trump and JD Vance.
“We will begin this new year strengthened, with purpose, with clarity, with a sense of optimism while being clear-eyed, and we will do what we have always done, born out of love for our country, and our knowledge that we must live the promise of America, to fulfill the promise of America takes work and it takes all of us, and I promise to be with you every step of the way.”
But the overall theme of Harris’ comments was an emphasis on tranquility and gratitude. At one point, Harris shared some advice about the importance of eating well during the holidays.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
“Try to put some good food on the table, you know, and go to other people’s houses and they don’t cook very well, bring your own dish, do what you have to do to take care of yourself,” she said, while she prompted many in the audience to laugh.
Harris also emphasized that all the work Democrats had done during the election had not been in vain.
“You have answered a call to serve in so many ways, so in this season it is very important to make it first and foremost for you, for us that we celebrate each other, that we celebrate our work that has had and will have meaning continue to have. ours has been the intentional work about building community, ours has been the intentional work about building coalitions,” she said.
Since losing the election, Harris has rarely appeared before supporters to talk about her 2024 loss and her plans for the future.
Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff appeared at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony last week and the Kennedy Center Awards on Sunday.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden did not acknowledge Harris or Emhoff when they were announced at the arts awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., and did not shake hands or give them hugs when they arrived.
President Joe Biden, second from left, first lady Jill Biden, left, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, right, applaud during the 47th Kennedy Center Honors
US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (R) attend the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse
Her decision to address Democrats on video ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday was widely mocked as she urged them not to let anyone take power.
Harris also spoke last week at an event hosted by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators to thank them for their support.
“I wanted to come by and say happy holidays, happy Christmas, happy Kwanza, happy Hanukkah, whatever you’re celebrating, but most importantly, let’s make sure we celebrate each other,” she said.
She carefully explained that she was only there to say ‘greetings’ and not for a long speech.
“This is the time for us to be grateful to celebrate our blessings and to reinvigorate ourselves about the blessings we have yet to create for each other and the people we represent,” she said.