WASHINGTON — Hundreds of White House staffers greeted Vice President Kamala Harris with chants of “M-V-P” Tuesday as she returned to the executive complex for the first time since losing last week’s presidential election to Donald Trump.
The widely known acronym for “Most Valuable Player” was apparently repurposed by Democratic loyalists to pay tribute to the 60-year-old’s honorary title as “Madame Vice President.”
Harris lost all seven swing states to Trump, 78, as well as the national popular vote — after running a 107-day campaign that raised, and then blew through, more than $1 billion after President Biden stepped aside July 21 due to concern about his mental acuity.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” Harris told the crowd of several hundred aides lined up along West Executive Avenue between the West Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building outside the White House.
“Listen, we do the best work anybody could do, which is to dedicate ourselves to the people, to public service, to lifting folks up, knowing we have the power, and when we do that work, we make a difference, and you all are a part of doing that work every single day, and I am so grateful to each of you,” the veep said.
“So let’s get back to work, because we still have work to get done. And I am sending all my love and thanks. Thank you, everyone.”
Harris was scheduled to have lunch with Biden, 81, on Tuesday after joining him Monday at Arlington National Cemetery for a Veterans Day commemoration.
The vice president’s lopsided loss has cast uncertainty over the future of the Democratic Party, though some observers believe Harris may be attempting to position herself for a continuing role as the party enters the opposition in both chambers of Congress.
