Kamala Harris to Swear in Republican Senators Who Refused to Pronounce Her Name Correctly

One of Vice President Kamala Harris’ final official acts before leaving office will be to swear in several Republican senators who notably refused to pronounce her first name correctly, according to a report by Time Magazine on Thursday.

This moment of duty follows a tumultuous political period where these same Republicans worked ardently to oppose her re-election and ensure President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. The senators taking their oaths this Friday have, over recent months, been vocal critics of Harris, often making public remarks that painted her as a threat to American values.

Philip Elliott, writing for Time, highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that when Harris administers the oath, many of the same politicians who once smeared her reputation will smile and hand over their family Bibles. “Many of the smiling politicians handing her their family Bibles will be the same ones who for months have been telling crowds that she was a threat to the American way of life,” he explained.

These same figures spent countless hours at rallies, on social media, and in interviews, spreading baseless claims about her intentions. Among the most outrageous accusations were allegations that she sought to “ban Christmas from the calendar,” introduce dog meat to immigrants’ kitchens, and orchestrate an election fraud scheme by allowing undocumented immigrants to vote.

Perhaps the most notable indignity, Elliott continued, came from four Republican Senators who had spoken at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last year. Of these, three of them—Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sens.-elect Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Jim Banks (R-IN)—mocked Harris, even going as far as to mispronounce her name while ridiculing her.

In a particularly bizarre episode, Bernie Moreno amplified the false internet hoax that immigrants in Springfield were abducting and eating pets, further contributing to the political vitriol surrounding her. Elliott acknowledges that such actions are part of the “performative” nature of modern politics, yet he notes that Harris, despite the personal attacks, may continue her political career in the future.

“So Harris will grip, grin, and grit on Friday, and for the next 17 days. Just don’t expect her to forget the litany of slights they hurled at her. Like all good pols at her level, Harris’ memory can be stubborn,” Elliott concludes, hinting that the vice president may have a few more political surprises in store, potentially including a future run for the presidency or the governorship of California.