What would you do if you’d just been dealt a devastating, extremely public defeat?
If your answer is “drink wine in leggings,” then vice-president and former Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris can do you one better: Drink wine in leggings, sporting a messy bun, while playing Connect 4.
“Back to where it all began only a few months ago,” Harris’s 40-year-old niece, Meena Harris, wrote in an Instagram post Sunday that depicted a smiling, laughing Harris sitting cross-legged on the floor playing the old-school board game with Meena’s daughters, Amara and Leela.
“My eternal gratitude to everyone who showed up. We love her so much,” wrote Meena, a lawyer, media executive, and author.
In the photos, Harris is wearing leggings and a Howard University sweatshirt, and there’s a glass of white wine on the ground beside her.
“They cannot kill the joy on her face,” wrote one user.
“So glad to see this amazing woman surrounded by family. She deserves some serious downtime,” wrote another.
Some Donald Trump supporters, however, have zeroed in on the glass of wine in the background. In the past, Republicans have falsely accused her of having a drinking problem. At a rally in October, Trump asked his supporters, “Does she drink? Is she on drugs?”
It’s become a frequent topic of criticism from the right, as Harris, notably, is not a teetotaller, unlike Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden. The San Francisco Chronicle reported she was a member of the wine club at Rock Wall Wine Co. in Alameda, Calif. And in October, Harris cracked a beer with late-night show host Stephen Colbert.
WATCH | Kamala Harris gives concession speech to emotional audience:
‘It’s going to be OK’
Harris conceded the presidential election to Trump last Wednesday after a sweeping rejection by American voters. She trailed in every battleground state to Trump, a Republican whom she described as an existential danger to the country’s foundational institutions.
And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House — even after two impeachments, dozens of felony convictions and an attempt to overturn his previous election loss.
“It is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it’s going to be OK,” Harris told supporters in her concession speech Wednesday as some of them wiped tears from their eyes.
But on Sunday, Harris appeared relaxed with her family. Harris reportedly loves to dote on her grand-nieces, and they’ve even appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where they gave the audience a lesson in how to pronounce “Kamala.”
Harris’s great-nieces, Amara and Leela, standing with actress Kerry Washington, led a crowd chant of the candidate’s name, as they explained how to pronounce it: ‘Comma-la.’ (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)
Meena Harris has posted dozens of photos of her daughters supporting their great-aunt, including in 2020, when Biden defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States — with Harris as his running mate.
“VICE PRESIDENT AUNTIE,” wrote Meena on Nov. 7, 2020, alongside a photo of Harris holding Amara and Leela’s hands.
Last week, she posted a video of the girls reminding people to “get out and vote!”
And as for the wine, well, for as many people criticizing, saying “of course,” or repeatedly calling Harris a “wine aunt,” there are people on both sides of the political spectrum applauding her, or simply saying “who cares.”
“I would do the same thing,” wrote a user on X.
“I voted for Trump but since he won, we don’t have to pick on her for this. Being with your family is wholesome,” wrote another person on X.
“Who cares? Having a glass of wine & laughing with your family is actually very normal behaviour,” added another.