Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be taking a page straight out of the “How to Be a Gracious Loser” handbook—by skipping a call to President-Elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his stunning comeback win. This move is not only unorthodox but also downright cheeky, considering the well-worn tradition of offering congratulatory sentiments, especially when one’s political rival has just claimed victory. Yet, Harris opted to keep her phone on mute, leaving everyone to speculate if she was busy drafting her next big policy proposal instead of acknowledging the political earthquake that just occurred.
Trump’s triumph was confirmed early Wednesday morning when Fox News crowned him the victor after he clinched Pennsylvania—a state that many thought would remain locked away in the Democrats’ vault. The media spectacle was nearly instantaneous, given Trump’s address to his supporters at Mar-a-Lago just hours later, where he not only celebrated but also delivered a rousing victory speech. Meanwhile, Harris was likely busy figuring out how to pivot from campaigning to potentially collaborating with the Trump administration. It seems her aides are already in damage control mode, acknowledging the upset while Harris herself, well, seems less than eager to concede.
Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to call Republican winner Donald Trump to formally acknowledge him as President-elect. pic.twitter.com/E7Fvs0EPHx
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) November 6, 2024
As NBC News reported, Harris’s team is reportedly wrestling with what to do next, hinting at a future of cooperation with “The Donald.” Yet, the biggest mystery here is why Harris decided to skip the phone call altogether. Leaving her party at Howard University early without addressing her supporters doesn’t scream confidence or leadership. It’s almost as if she was auditioning for “The Silence of the Concession Speech.” This also sparked questions about whether she was waiting for the official stamp of approval from other networks before dialing Trump’s number—which, considering how long it took other outlets to confirm the race, was probably a wise choice on her end.
While CNN, MSNBC, and the Associated Press finally confirmed Trump’s victory later in the morning, it didn’t change the fact that the clock was ticking on Harris’s big moment of political decorum. She could have made a historic gesture by being the first to extend the olive branch, but instead, she opted for radio silence. One can only imagine the backroom conversations happening as her aides scramble to figure out how to graft a new working relationship with the incoming administration, all while Harris is apparently pretending that the election didn’t happen—or at least didn’t happen to her.
Trump, on the other hand, is taking the high road. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of unity and the necessity of putting America first. It’s almost poetic that while he is preaching reconciliation, Harris is only managing to conjure up echoes of political breezes, not high-fives. The ball is in her court, and it appears she’s deciding to keep it hidden in the depths of the political locker for now. What a way to start the new era—one side reaching out for collaboration and the other clenching their fist tighter around their Losing Candidate trophy.
