Vice President Kamala Harris stepped out for ice cream in Washington, D.C., on Friday, making a surprise public appearance as Democrats weigh the future of her political career.
Harris visited Smize & Dream, a new Temporary location in Washington, DC for an ice cream brand created by America’s Top Model star Tyra Banks.
The vice president opted for the ‘Cap Hill Crunch’ flavour, an experimental flavour. The recipe includes cereal-infused cereal, crunchy toffee and pieces of French toast soaked in cereal milk.
Harris made her public appearance as Democrats continue to pressure President Joe Biden to drop his re-election bid.
Speculation about Harris’ future has also been rife in Democratic circles as she tries to reassert herself as Biden’s natural successor.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and her two great-nieces sample ice cream at the opening of the SMiZE & Dream pop-up ice cream parlor
Vice President Kamala Harris attends the grand opening of a pop-up ice cream shop owned by Tyra Banks
Harris previously had nothing on her public schedule, though she did hold two campaign events earlier in the week.
The ice cream trip took place just before a call with major Democratic donors on Friday afternoon, according to the New York Times.
The call is intended for Harris to address the campaign’s “urgent and emerging needs,” according to a letter from major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, during a “rapidly evolving environment.”
Although Vice President Harris is technically Biden’s successor, some believe she is not the best candidate to replace Biden.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez told supporters in a video she posted on social media Thursday night that Harris supporters “duped by the boogeyman pill” should not assume the vice president would take her place.
“I’m just going to say it. If you think there’s a consensus among people who want Joe Biden to dump Kamala, that they’re going to support Kamala, support Vice President Harris, you’re wrong,” he said.
But on Friday, Harris seemed willing to take a break from the political drama. She took her grandnieces, Amara and Leela, to try the designer ice cream.
“Get in line!” Banks wrote on Instagram on Thursday to announce the opening of her shop. “The first 202 customers will receive free ice cream and a delicious surprise!”
Vice President Kamala Harris (center) and her two great-nieces place an order with Tyra Banks (left) at her new Smize Dream Ice Cream shop in Washington, DC.
Tyra Banks greets US Vice President Kamala Harris at the opening of SMiZE & Dream ice cream shop
Banks coined the term ‘Smize’ to describe the task of models smiling with their eyes.
It’s unclear whether Harris got in line quickly enough to get the free ice cream, but he did visit the store and spoke to Banks.
Banks told the girls that when she was a child, she used to go with her mother to an ice cream shop every Friday, where they would sit in the car and talk about their dreams.
“My mom and I have been obsessed with ice cream forever. And now, I’ve been able to make my ice cream dreams come true with Smize & Dream,” she wrote on Instagram.
