The 119th Congress kicked off on January 3, 2024, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped into the spotlight, albeit reluctantly, to swear in the incoming class of U.S. Senators. Harris, who’s been largely invisible since her defeat to Donald Trump in 2024, made one of her rare public appearances for this ceremonial duty. Judging by her subdued demeanor, one might wonder how thrilled she was about this constitutional obligation. Among the more amusing moments was her encounter with Senator JD Vance, who seized the chance to add some light trolling to the proceedings. Vance, no stranger to a little political theater, seemed to savor the moment, likely buoyed by the prospect of further Republican successes in the coming weeks.
Then came the pièce de résistance: Harris leading the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. One would assume the vice president could breeze through such a routine task, but reality had other plans. She stumbled, inexplicably forgetting the phrase “the flag.” Given that the entire pledge centers on, well, pledging allegiance to “the flag,” it was a particularly ironic slip. Naturally, the internet wasted no time pouncing on the moment, turning it into meme fodder. Critics saw it as yet another instance of Harris showcasing her knack for making the simplest tasks appear Herculean.
While this gaffe might seem like small potatoes, it encapsulates the broader narrative of Harris’s troubled political career. Her rise to prominence owes much to her connections, starting with her controversial relationship with Willie Brown, a prominent California politician notorious for his political wheeling and dealing. Brown handed Harris several cushy board appointments that he later admitted were instrumental in her ascent. From there, she leveraged California’s Democrat machine to climb the ranks, becoming San Francisco’s District Attorney and then California’s Attorney General. Her tenure in both roles, however, left critics questioning whether her actions prioritized justice or self-promotion.
Harris eventually landed in the U.S. Senate, where she made headlines for her fiery exchanges during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Her dramatic performances won applause from the media, but her legislative accomplishments were few and far between. Buoyed by this glowing coverage, Harris launched a presidential campaign that started strong on paper but fell apart almost immediately. Despite having significant resources and initial enthusiasm, her inability to connect with voters doomed her campaign, forcing her to bow out before the Iowa caucuses even began.
What voters rejected, Joe Biden salvaged. Harris’s selection as Biden’s running mate had little to do with her record and more to do with checking demographic boxes. As vice president, she’s largely stayed out of the spotlight, surfacing only for moments like these—awkward and uninspiring as they may be. Her mishap during the Pledge of Allegiance serves as a fitting metaphor for a political career defined more by hype than substance. For a leader once touted as the future of the Democrat Party, her performance at the opening of the new Congress seemed to underline just how far short she’s fallen of those lofty expectations.
