Vice President Kamala Harris is certainly making headlines again, and not for reasons that reflect well on her or the office she holds. With Vice President-elect J.D. Vance preparing to move into the official residence at the Naval Observatory, the outgoing VP seems to have decided that petty bitterness and a lack of basic courtesy are the order of the day. According to multiple reports, Harris has failed to extend a formal invitation for a sit-down or a tour of the residence to her successor—breaking with longstanding tradition.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a slight against J.D. Vance and his family—it’s a slap in the face to basic decorum and the peaceful transition of power. For generations, vice presidents have handed over the reins of Naval One with dignity, regardless of political differences.
Even former Vice President Mike Pence—working under a president as combative as Donald Trump—made sure to discreetly offer Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, a chance to visit the residence before they moved in. That gesture spoke to Pence’s understanding of the importance of preserving the dignity of the office, even amid a contentious transition. Harris, on the other hand? She’s proving why voters ultimately rejected her and the Biden administration.
Scoop: When JD Vance moves into the Naval Observatory residence on Jan. 20 with his wife Usha and their three young children, it will be his 1st time there. No invitation for a formal sit-down or tour has been extended by VP Kamala Harris, multiple D and R sources told CBS News.…
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 14, 2025
And let’s not overlook the Vance family’s situation here. With three young children under the age of eight, Usha Vance did the responsible thing by reaching out to Harris’ office back in November to ask if the home required child-proofing. What was the response from Harris’ staff? Rejection.
A Harris political appointee rebuffed the Vances’ perfectly reasonable request, leaving them scrambling to get basic details about the home. It wasn’t until weeks later, when Navy officials stepped in, that the Vances were finally given an overview of the house. That’s right—it took military personnel to ensure the incoming second family could make appropriate preparations.
To make matters slightly better (and only slightly), Emhoff reportedly had a 40-minute conversation with Usha Vance last week to discuss logistics for the move. But that’s too little, too late. This isn’t just about logistics; it’s about leadership and respect for the institution. Harris’ lack of professionalism stands in stark contrast to the high standards of those who’ve occupied the vice presidency before her.
Kamala to wildfire victims: “It’s critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do.” pic.twitter.com/C064b5PgOt
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 14, 2025
Why the cold shoulder? The most obvious answer is Harris’ inability to handle defeat. Let’s not sugarcoat it: the 2024 election wasn’t just a loss for her—it was a stunning, public rejection of everything she represents. Harris entered politics with a meteoric rise but fell just as spectacularly. From her disastrous presidential campaign in 2020 to her underwhelming tenure as vice president, Harris has repeatedly demonstrated that she’s far better at climbing the political ladder than actually leading. Her performance during the 2024 campaign only underscored what Americans already knew: she was unqualified, uninspiring, and ineffective.
