One week before Election Day on October 29, Kamala Harris delivered her closing argument speech at the Ellipse in Washington DC. In the same place where the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th occurred, Harris proclaimed that the ability for Americans to live in a country “rooted in freedom for everyone” or “ruled by chaos and division” is all in the hands of voters when they decide who to cast their ballots for on Election Day. At this moment, Harris gave the American people an explicit warning that Trump is both unstable to be president and “out for unchecked power” which would ultimately be detrimental to the future of America as a nation.
A mere 72 hours before the election, Harris released her final campaign ad titled “Brighter Future.” Here, she solidified that only through her presidency, will Americans live in a country of freedom, unity, and leadership that will result in a brighter future for every American.
On November 6, 2024, Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech at Howard University, her alma mater—a moment she and her supporters had hoped would instead be a celebration of victory after the contentious presidential election. The atmosphere was heavy with disappointment, as the results marked a turning point in a fiercely fought campaign. Within this speech, Harris proclaimed the following sentiments:
“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case.”
“To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it’s going to be okay.”
But truly, who will be okay?
Will it be the many families who will be stripped from each other’s arms due to Trump’s plan for mass deportations? Will it be the many women around the nation who will face the possibility of death due to their state’s stern governance over their reproductive rights?
For an unprecedented 107-day presidential campaign, Kamala Harris ran on the very notion that if Americans did not vote for her, envisioning a future plagued by a lack of fundamental rights, fear, and division would be within reach if Americans chose not to cast their vote for her. Although many voters viewed Harris as a mother figure, hence the nickname “Momala,” and looked on her to provide them with great amounts of solace, her voters deserved to hear the hard truth. A truth that reflected the same dangers her campaign presented to voters a mere 72 hours before her concession speech and throughout the entirety of her campaign that emphasized how a nation governed by Trump will ultimately lead to a state of peril for the people of today and the people of tomorrow. While I believe that Harris’ speech was effective and fulfilled the traditional goals of a concession speech—acknowledging her defeat, thanking her constituents, and offering hope for the future—I struggled to accept the validity of some of her statements.
With Trump’s second term of presidency nearing a start, the list of individuals he intends to appoint to federal departments, even departments that are yet to exist, counters the narrative that America is not entering a dark time and that we will be okay. Notably, Matt Gaetz being nominated as Attorney General of the Department of Justice has been an especially contentious choice considering his objective lack of experience in the legal field and being entangled in a sex trafficking investigation by the very same department he will soon be the head of under Trump’s administration. Additionally, If the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which Trump praises for overturning Roe V. Wade in 2022, continues to revisit cases grounded in the constitutional right to privacy, the erosion of individual rights at the federal level could threaten the stability of other rights, such as same-sex marriage.
As the soundtrack of Beyonce’s “Freedom” fades into the distance of our minds, what remains is the evident reality of our current political climate. Kamala Harris’ optimism may temporarily soothe, but it cannot shield Americans from the storm ahead. With Trump’s presidency making a return, Americans must move beyond complacency and desolation, and instead mobilize with conviction to fight for a future that does not take freedom for granted.
Edward Kombe ‘28 studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. He can be reached at e.kombe@wustl.edu.