A body language expert revealed Tuesday what was really going on in a Kamala Harris video message that caused a firestorm of concern since it was shared with supporters earlier this week.
Many viewers were taken aback by Harris’ seemingly sloppy delivery, with some speculating the vice president appeared drunk as she thanked backers for their efforts three weeks after her crushing election loss.
However, body language analyst Judi James had quite a different take.
James said the video clearly demonstrated Harris’ great difficulty in expressing honest human emotion.
The expert said: ‘This is a very verbose speech that combines Harris’ talent for the word salad with her signature body language rituals that try to persuade you that you are listening to some extremely profound, motivational thoughts and messages.’
Online commenters likened the veep’s delivery to a ‘drunk aunt at Thanksgiving’ and posted memes including one with a booze bottle and another with Harris looking sloppy and puffing a cigar.
At one point in the video Harris audibly hiccups while speaking, which added fuel to that notion.
‘I just have to remind you, don’t let anybody take your power from you. You have the same power that you did before Nov. 5, and you have the same purpose that you did. And you have the same ability to engage and inspire. So don’t ever let anybody or any circumstance take your power from you,’ Harris said in the video through a delivery labeled as both bizarre and concerning.
But James did not come to the same conclusion, suggesting instead that Harris was almost grasping to demonstrate emotion about the loss, and empathy for her supporters.
‘Her gestures are largely flaccid, including the waggling finger, implying a weaker impression than her words,’ James said.
The vice president’s remarks were the first time that Harris addressed supporters since she offered her concession speech the afternoon after the Nov. 5 election, vowing to continue the fight.
Kamala Harris addresses supporters of her failed campaign in a video
Harris tried to signal a more upbeat tone in the video, and James noted she began speaking through a ‘very playful greeting smile.’
‘She purses her lips around the smile and talks through her smile, suggesting nothing will halt the fun that she loves to advocate,’ the analyst said.
Harris admitted in her message that the result of the campaign was not what supporters wanted but urged them not to lose hope.
Harris ’employs the nodding-head baton ritual that is used to make her words sound deeply important with this ‘importantisizing’ technique including raised brows, a pinned eye gaze (I see you!) and a frequently waggling index finger,’ James posited.
At one point, Harris almost choked up and put her hand up to her throat and grew even more scattered as she tried to conclude her remarks.
Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris calls voters in a last-minute campaign push at the Democratic National Committee
‘The speech dissolves slightly towards the end when she speaks about collecting Thanksgiving family around you in what goes down word-salad alley,’ James said.
‘But overall she seem to be determined to keep this motivational to her audience, as though they’d fallen – rather than herself,’ the expert said. ‘A bit like a concerned mom revving their teenager up for a second attempt at failed exams or sports.’
Social media had a field day with the video as they edited the footage to manipulate the video of Harris holding or sitting next to a bottle of alcohol.
One edited video shows Harris holding a bottle of Hennessy and another shows her smoking a cigar.
‘When you’re by yourself minding your own business at Thanksgiving and your drunk Aunt finds you…’ one user wrote on X.
Another said: ‘Channeling the drunk aunt who’s a total mess but chases you down after every holiday dinner to give you unwanted life advice on your way out the door.’
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