Kamala Harris Faces Backlash Over Post-Election Video: ‘Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?’

Vice President Kamala Harris found herself at the center of social media criticism on Tuesday after a video addressing her supporters was shared on the Democratic Party’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The video marked Harris’ first public comments since conceding the election to President-elect Donald Trump and aimed to encourage her followers in the wake of the loss.

In the video, Harris, speaking directly to the camera, urged her supporters to remain steadfast despite the outcome of the election.

"I just have to remind you, don’t let anybody take your power from you. You have the same power that you did before Nov. 5, and you have the same purpose that you did. And you have the same ability to engage and inspire. So don’t ever let anybody or any circumstance take your power from you," she said.

While the message was intended to rally her base, the response on social media suggested it had the opposite effect. Many users expressed confusion and disappointment, describing the video as “terrible” and questioning the decision to release it.

Contributors from across the political spectrum weighed in, with some calling the video a misstep for Harris’ communications team.

Kimberly Ross, a contributor to the DC Examiner, wrote bluntly, "Is this a… joke? It’s a terrible video. Yikes." Fox News contributor Joe Concha echoed similar sentiments, remarking, "I’m not sure you guys want to be amplifying this. There’s something, ummmm, off with the vice president."

OutKick columnist Mary Katharine Ham quipped, "When you hand your phone to someone to police your social media posts when y’all go hard, you wanna hand it to someone who likes you."

Criticism wasn’t limited to commentators. The Republican Committee of Prince William County declared, "The joy is gone," while former Trump White House advisor Ben Williamson added, "I’d read a 5,000-word article on how this got approved for release."

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, commented sarcastically, "They wouldn’t let her go on @joerogan but they let her do this," adding a facepalm emoji for emphasis.

The tone and content of the video left some users baffled. Tyler Austin Harper, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, questioned the intent behind the message, writing, "Who thought this was a good idea? Who is this for? What is this for? What is she even saying? Once again, I will reiterate that we are ruled by imbeciles."

National Review’s senior political correspondent Jim Geraghty took issue with the timing and messaging, noting, "Besides the, er, vibe of flammability, the message ‘don’t let anyone take your power from you’ is perhaps less than ideal as a theme during the peaceful transfer of power."

According to reports, the video originated from a call Harris had earlier in the day with donors and volunteers.

During the call, she addressed the election results for the first time, saying, "The outcome of this election obviously is not what we wanted. It is not what we worked so hard for. But I am proud of the race we ran, and your role in this was critical. What we did in 107 days was unprecedented."

Since her concession, Harris has largely remained out of the public eye, vacationing in Hawaii with her husband, Doug Emhoff.

The video, intended as a rallying cry, instead reignited debates about Harris’ communication strategies and raised questions about her political future as she steps back from the national stage.