Kamala Harris faced widespread ridicule from Republicans and conservative media after a short video clip of her post-election remarks went viral.
The 28-second clip, shared by the Democratic Party on its social media platform, marked Harris's first public comments since losing to Donald Trump in the November 5 election.
During a 13-minute virtual call with supporters, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, reflected on the campaign’s challenges.
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She acknowledged the loss, saying, “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted or worked hard for, but I am proud of our race.” Harris also emphasized resilience, encouraging supporters not to “get knocked down” despite the campaign’s abrupt end following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from reelection.
Opponents criticized the brief clip, intended to inspire her base, as a public relations misstep. Representative Virginia Fox likened it to an unbearable “dial-up modem sound,” while Republican staffer Ben Williamson sarcastically questioned how it passed approval.
Social media users amplified the backlash with memes, including a doctored video implying Harris was drinking.
Harris urged her audience to stay empowered in the viral segment: “Don’t let anyone take your power. You still can engage and inspire as you did before November 5th.”
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, known for his outsider 2020 presidential bid, defended Harris, noting the clip was taken out of context.
However, he questioned the decision to share it publicly, stating, “Some messages are meant for grassroots supporters and don’t translate well for broader audiences.”
