Vice President Kamala Harris Receives Warm Welcome at White House in First Public Appearance

Vice President Kamala Harris received a warm welcome at the White House on Monday in her first public appearance since announcing her candidacy for president. TheGrio was on the ground to capture the historic moment as Harris stood alone to welcome thousands of NCAA athletes, with President Joe Biden absent as he recovered from COVID-19 in Delaware.

Despite not mentioning her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Harris delivered glowing praise for President Biden, calling his legacy of accomplishment unmatched in modern history. The support for Harris was evident as she received major endorsements from top Democratic leaders, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Senator Laphonza Butler, a close ally of Harris, expressed the excitement and activation of Black women in the Democratic Party about the potential nomination of Harris at the Democratic National Convention in August. Longtime Biden confidant U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn praised President Biden for his record of accomplishments for Black people, including the trillion-dollar infrastructure law and efforts to lower health costs.

As President Biden endorsed Harris as the party’s nominee and decided not to seek reelection, activists and leaders expressed admiration for his selfless decision. Harris’s historic campaign for president has already raised $81 million in less than 24 hours, showcasing the overwhelming support for the first Black woman and potentially the first woman president. The legacy of President Biden is now forever tied to Harris and her historic campaign, with Democrats rallying behind her to secure the nomination.