The Democratic and Republican senators’ children appeared to console Kamala Harris over her election loss as she swore their parents in on Friday.
Harris was on Capitol Hill for the opening of the 119th Congress, while she is president of the Senate and swears in all senators.
After botching the Pledge of Allegiance, Harris began initiating all new and returning members into the upper chamber.
When Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who won Kyrsten Sinema’s seat despite Harris losing his state, came to greet her, his son had a wistful five-word message for the vice president.
“I’m sorry you didn’t win,” Gallego’s son Michael told her.
Harris fearlessly tells the five-year-old that it will be okay before comforting him.
“Oh, you know what, honey… Don’t worry about it. There is still so much work to do. We are not defeated,” said the runner-up.
She then asks the boy if he knows what the word ‘defeated’ means and he answers in the affirmative.
When Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who won Kyrsten Sinema’s seat despite Harris losing his state, came to greet her, his son had a wistful five-word message for the vice president. “I’m sorry you didn’t win,” Gallego’s son Michael told her
Gallego was much more cheerful when Harris swore him into the Senate
‘Are we defeated? No, we are not. Right. That’s right. That’s right,” says Harris, before officially swearing in his father.
However, that wasn’t the only interesting interaction Harris had with the descendants of a newly elected senator.
Dave McCromick, a Republican who defeated incumbent Democrat Bob Casey for his Pennsylvania seat, brought his daughters to Harris’ swearing-in.
After the five girls pose for a photo with Harris and without McCormick, one of them is seen whispering to Harris, “I voted for you.”
Harris let out her signature cackle before replying, “I saw it.”
The swearing-in followed Harris’s error on the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony.
Harris could be heard asking senators to join her in the pledge as she turns to the American flag and begins.
But the vice president then botched the first sentence by saying, “I pledge allegiance to the United States -” instead of “I pledge allegiance to the flag.”
Harris fearlessly tells the five-year-old that it will be okay before comforting him.
Dave McCromick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, brought his daughters to Harris’ swearing-in ceremony. After the five girls pose for a photo with Harris and without McCormick, one of them is seen whispering to Harris, “I voted for you.”
After mixing up the start, Harris was able to quickly pick up where she left off and successfully complete the pledge, but her fumble did not go unnoticed.
The vice president then proceeded to take the oath of office before the newly elected and re-elected senators, continuing the awkward situation as she came face to face with the man who will replace her as vice president.
Vice President-elect JD Vance was there to support newly elected Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, just weeks before he replaces Harris after President-elect Trump defeated her in November’s presidential election.
The Ohio senator was all smiles as he stood just feet away from her as she took the oath of office before Moreno and other senators.
Neither Harris nor Vance appeared to engage in conversation, but both continued to smile and shake hands with the newly sworn-in senators before another group was led in to take the oath.
Vance wasn’t the only Republican Harris came face-to-face with on Friday who had criticized her in Congress or during the campaign in recent years, including some who refused to pronounce her first name correctly.
Despite the nasty politics of the recent election, Republican senators and the vice president put aside their differences for the occasion and greeted each other warmly with smiles and handshakes.
However, there was one person who appeared to be taking a dig at Republicans on the floor of the Senate.
Vice President-elect JD Vance grins as Kamala Harris rejects the Pledge of Allegiance
Former Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski joined newly elected Senator Angela Alsobrooks for her swearing-in.
As the former lawmaker greeted the vice president, she was heard emphasizing “Kamala.”
“I just wanted to get your name right in the Senate,” Mikulski said clearly from the Senate floor.
In another cringe-inducing moment, Harris was left looking uncomfortable as Republican Sen. Deb Fischer’s husband shook her hand.
The interaction took place during the one-on-one ceremonial swearing-in of senators with their families on Friday.
Harris greeted the Democratic and Republican senators as they introduced their spouses and children, but Fischer’s husband stayed far away from the vice president when it was their turn.
Harris even joked, “I don’t bite” as he stepped forward to hold the Bible for his wife.
After taking the oath, Harris and the Nebraska senator shook hands and smiled.
But when the vice president addressed her to Bruce, the senator’s husband, he left her hanging and said “thank you” before shoving his hands in his pockets.