Vice President Kamala Harris was brutally savaged after chuckling at her own remarks during a post-election speech on Tuesday.
Addressing a group of young attendees at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, Harris delivered a word salad mix of motivational phrases and historical callbacks.
Acknowledging the disappointment of her supporters after her November loss, Harris urged the crowd to remain committed.
“I ask you to remember that this struggle is not new. It goes back nearly 250 years to Lexington and Concord,” she stated, referencing key moments of the American Revolution.
.@VP Harris: "I ask of you this…that you you will not walk away. That you will stay true to your spirit and your sense of purpose. That you will continue to fight for the promise of America. And I ask you to remember the context in which you exist. Yeah, I did that. Uh huh." pic.twitter.com/tzu2TovJTM
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 17, 2024
“Generation after generation, it has been driven by those who love our country, cherish its ideals, and refuse to sit passive while our ideals are under assault. This fight now, it continues with you. You are its heirs.”
At one point, Harris smiled knowingly and remarked, “I ask you to remember the context in which you exist.” She paused, nodded, and quipped, “Yeah, I did that. Uh-huh,” before laughing.
This appeared to tie back to a previous word salad remark during her campaign about existing within one’s environment, saying, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
Kamala Harris falling out of a coconut tree.
(Grok 2 generated) pic.twitter.com/skRPiZN1bQ
— Heidi (@HeidiBriones) August 14, 2024
Unsurprisingly, social media users wasted no time criticizing her speech.
Political commentator Collin Rugg shared a clip, sarcastically noting, “I must say, this was impressive,” calling her remarks “profound comments.”
Juanita Broaddrick chimed in, “She should be forced to sit in a room alone and watch her own videos. She has the intelligence of dirt.”
Rugg didn’t hold back, adding, “This is the woman that 75M Americans wanted to send to negotiate with world leaders like Putin and Xi. Extremely concerning.”
Over at the National Review, Pradheep J. Shanker mockingly commented, “Right now, that context where I exist is where you will be unemployed in a month or so.”
Writer Noah Rothman summed up the online consensus with, “She’s in on the joke now, but that doesn’t render it less of a joke.”
Sticking with her pattern, Harris left the audience with another muddled sentiment.
“You know, I do believe that public service is a noble calling. It is noble work and is — it is an expression of optimism which is, you know, and believe and it is being verified to each of you every day that the work you do that can lift people up has effect, it matters,” she continued.
The message, geared toward the young leaders in attendance, was followed by, “Your work is about the optimism that comes with knowing that one individual can make a difference in the lives of so many people.”
Attempting to add gravity to her speech, Harris shared a personal anecdote involving her mother.
“My mother gave me a long time ago, she would say to me, ‘Kamala, don’t just complain about what is wrong. Do something about it, make it right.’ That’s a life you all are living,” she told the crowd.
The vice president, who had previously compared President-elect Donald Trump to historical atrocities during the presidential race, called on students to uphold American values.
“Be guided by the ideals that have always defined us when we are at our best — dignity and decency, fairness, freedom,” she said. “It is not based on who you beat down, it’s based on who you lift up.”
Critics on social media were merciless, with Logan Hall posting, “We cannot thank President Trump enough for saving us from four years of this.”
Another user, Bruce Hooley, said, “I am thankful she has come out of hiding in her loser cave to remind us all how utterly vapid, vacuous, and annoying she is.”
Despite the backlash, Harris teased the possibility of staying active in politics. Just days earlier, President Biden assured the Democratic National Committee, “She’s not going anywhere.”
Harris herself declared, “The United States of America itself would never have come to be if people had given up their cause after a court case or a battle or an election did not go their way.”
Rumors about her political aspirations have begun circulating, with sources suggesting she’s keeping her options open for a possible future campaign.
Five individuals close to Harris revealed that she’s contemplating her next steps and plans to reflect with her family over the holidays.
Speculation includes a potential 2026 California gubernatorial campaign or perhaps another presidential run in 2028.
Insiders see a variety of paths; former campaign aide Brian Brokaw commented, “She doesn’t have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months.”
He mentioned that forming an initiative to travel, give speeches, and maintain her political connections might be a logical move.
While Harris’ California Senate seat is currently occupied, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, creating an opportunity for Harris to run for his office.
“Could she run for governor? Yes. Do I think she wants to run for governor? Probably not. Could she win? Definitely.” Brokaw remained unsure of whether she’d enjoy the role but noted that a presidential bid was still entirely feasible.
Harris’ supporters believe she could learn from her previous campaign struggles, with Brokaw stating, “People can learn a lot from their previous adversity, too.”
Watch Harris’ full speech here: