“This is a Master Stroke”: Ex-GOP Congressman Says Harris is Out-Trumping Trump with Ellipse Rally

Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally at the Ellipse on Tuesday night—a powerful symbolic gesture at the same location where former President Donald Trump held his infamous “Stop the Steal” rally before the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021—has drawn praise from unexpected quarters. Former Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA), who served as a senior advisor to the January 6 select committee, commended Harris’s strategy, describing it as a bold move that effectively reclaims the location for democracy.

“I think this is a masterstroke,” Riggleman told Raw Story at the rally. “Having this on the Ellipse right before the election… it’s the way to go.” Riggleman views Harris’s choice of venue as a direct challenge to Trump’s narrative, especially after his controversial Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, which Riggleman called “the biggest October surprise self-own in political history.”

According to Riggleman, Trump’s rally was steeped in racist, sexist, and conspiracy-driven rhetoric, which created an opening for Harris to present an optimistic vision for the country. “The Madison Square Garden rally gave her the opportunity to provide a positive vision for America, where he tried to destroy America,” he said to Reuters.

Riggleman sees Harris’s Ellipse event as an opportunity to contrast Trump’s divisive messages with an inclusive call to protect democratic principles. Riggleman, who has distanced himself from the GOP but remains committed to conservative values, expressed disappointment over the party’s direction under Trump. “It’s a party for the unserious,” he said, lamenting the GOP’s focus on nativist and divisive ideologies over substantive policy.

“I think that’s the shame of it all, is that we have real issues globally, and these individuals are not prepared to deal with what America needs to deal with. You gotta support sanity and rationality. Right now, the GOP is so infested with nativism and bad behavior, there’s no way, I think, traditional center-right individuals would want to be a part of the party.”

Some critics have argued that Harris’s focus should be on pressing domestic issues like the economy and immigration in the final days of the campaign. But Riggleman disagrees, contending that democracy itself is a crucial issue. “This is why this is so important. I think we do have to run on democracy,” he emphasized.

“The most important thing for the United States of America is our democratic institutions. Especially for former Republicans, independents, people that are center-right or center-left — this is still, I think, the main focus of this election. It’s not to have a repeat of Jan. 6.” Riggleman also highlighted the massive turnout for Harris’s rally, comparing it favorably to the crowd size at Trump’s January 6 event.

“The interesting part, I think this might be bigger than the Jan. 6 speech on the Ellipse,” he observed as large crowds filled the National Mall for Harris’s address. By holding her rally at the Ellipse, Harris reclaims the space for her message of unity and the protection of democratic values, offering a stark contrast to the tone of Trump’s rallies. Riggleman’s praise underscores the rally’s significance, portraying it as a defining moment in Harris’s campaign and a symbolic rebuttal to the events that unfolded there nearly three years ago.