Former Vice President Kamala Harris and ex-President Joe Biden were spotted together for the first time in public since Harris’s startling loss in the presidential election to the triumphantly dominant Donald Trump. The occasion was the customary ceremony that takes place on Veterans Day, held at Arlington National Cemetery. The duo, attempting to maintain a solemn facade, partook in the ritual of laying a wreath for the fallen.
Interestingly, during his speech at the event, Biden shockingly sidestepped any mention of the recent contentious election. The Arlington ceremony is traditionally viewed as a nonpartisan affair, and thus the two Democrat figures graced the occasion together, in a processional that seemed to lack both vitality and enthusiasm.
Harris was noticed for her resolute, unsmiling demeanour throughout the event, while Biden seemed somewhat rigid and appeared to be struggling with a persistent cough. There were also instances where Biden seemed somewhat distanced from events, his eyes shut. Their commitment to the ceremony was evident when both were seen with their hands on their hearts at a memorable moment of the ceremony.
During Biden’s address to the attendees, the former First Lady Jill Biden along with Harris, were in attendance among other members of the erstwhile Biden administration. In his speech, Biden eulogized on the ‘sacred obligation,’ referring to the significant responsibility towards the men and women serving this great nation and its veterans.
He encapsulated his sentiment by stating, `We commit and recommit to the sacred vow.` Notably, he mentioned that it would be his final time standing at Arlington as the Commander-in-Chief, a position he dubbed as the ‘greatest honor of his life.’ Furthermore, he ran through the numerous ways his administration attempted to support veterans, notably including those who had suffered the ill effects of exposure to toxic chemicals from burn pits—a misfortune his late son Beau also faced.
Surprisingly, Harris, who became the presidential candidate after Biden stepped down, had been walking a diplomatic tightrope for several weeks before the election relating to her connection with Biden. The ceremony at Arlington provided the first insight into their dynamics post the election which witnessed heavy favor for Trump.
Throughout the political arena, it was observed that Harris remained largely in alignment with Biden on policy matters. However, behind the scenes, allies from both camps are known to have had disagreements. In the wake of a historic loss for the Democratic Party, these differences have come to the forefront, adding fuel to the bonfire of defeat.
Pandemonium ensued within the Democratic contingent as the blame game commenced for the crushing defeat. This blame-trading highlighted the tensions in a relationship that had already been strained due to a prolonged push aimed at persuading the incumbent president to pass the Democratic nomination to Harris.
Harris’s defeat in seven key swing states, which were presumed to be easily winnable, further amplified the ignominy of the situation. Additionally, she failed to secure a stronghold in several states, where the Democratic Party usually holds influential sway. Adding insult to injury, Harris performed lower than various candidates from her own party.
The Democratic Party stumbled into the new year having suffered extensive losses: the White House, the Senate, and an anticipated failure to flip control of the House of Representatives. Party leadership found themselves under criticism for thwarting requests for a comprehensive presidential primary in January.
The marginalization of a key voting block—including young men, Latinos, Arab Americans, and working-class voters—is another issue stirring discontent. These demographics, who once displayed considerable support towards Bernie Sanders during his two Democratic primary bids, switched their loyalty to Trump or did not participate in the recent round of voting.
Surely, the Democrat Party’s performance and strategies employed during this electoral run have raised eyebrows. The disappointing performance has left everyone questioning, ‘Where did they go wrong?’ Time will tell if the hard lessons learned from this experience will shape future campaigns and voting strategies.
Without a doubt, the Democrats are staring down the prospect of soul-searching and introspection after this dampening defeat. Perhaps this is an opportunity for them to revisit their understanding of American voters’ sentiments and adjust their strategies accordingly.
However, for the time being, the celebration belongs to Donald Trump and his camp. They’ve pulled off an astounding victory, securing another term in the White House. This serves as a testament to their successful campaigning, solid leadership, and understanding of American needs and aspirations.
The Veterans Day ceremony served as a stark reminder of the change in American political scenery. As Biden and Harris solemnly went through the rituals of the event, one could not help but note the symbolic ending to a tumultuous run by the Democrat Party in the recent election.
Ultimately, it was the will of the American people that triumphed, aligning with Trump’s inspiring message of strength, prosperity and continued greatness for the nation. And for the Democrats, the path ahead is undeniably steep, marked by introspection, recalibration, and a lot of hard work. However, if they can truly learn from this experience, perhaps they will become a stronger opposition in the future.