As Kamala Harris was forced to declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2024 election she put on a pleasant facade to hide her ‘anger’ and ‘indignation.’
The awkward moment for Harris came Monday afternoon as she was tasked with certifying the results of an election she lost to a candidate she has repeatedly labeled a ‘fascist’ and ‘wannabe dictator.’
Taking the rostrum in the House of Representatives before all the members of Congress, the vice president cracked half-hearted smiles as she confirmed Trump’s victory to loud applause from Republicans.
It also signified her final defeat after an expedited presidential campaign.
Though Harris appeared placid and at times chipper throughout the joint session of Congress, she also seemed to bristle at times during the ceremony.
Her under-the-surface animosity towards Trump, despite being tamed at first, bubbled to the top more obviously than her previous primetime moments, body language expert Judi James exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com after analyzing the vice president’s demeanor.
‘Even Harris’s concession speech was delivered with the body language rituals of victory,’ James said in a statement.
‘Straight after Trump’s win she appeared giggling, chuckling and throwing wide smiles as she pointed at the crowd and patted her chest like the victor enjoying her moment of glory, looking determined to mask any sense of defeat.’
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson during a joint session of Congress to certify Donald Trump’s election, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. January 6, 2025. During the event Harris tried to hide her discomfort with the election results, a body language expert revealed to DailyMail.com
Harris puckered her lips and bristled when reading out Trump’s vote total
James continued: ‘Certifying the electoral votes today though, her non-verbal display suggested the adrenalin has subsided, leaving a very different set of emotional responses in its wake, like anger, indignation and a possible sense of unfairness.’
Harris’ rueful smile first disappeared when taking the steps up to the rostrum where Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson greeted her.
‘She made heavy going of the stairs to the stage and, with her signature gurgling smile missing, she seemed to be physically bracing herself,’ the body language expert explained.
‘Her cheeks were rounded as usual but her lips were now closed.’
Harris even appeared listless when first taking her place before the many lawmakers.
‘Her greeting ritual involved a friendly smile but then her lips began to purse and she did what actors call a ‘bit of business’ with the water glass, removing the lid and moving to pick it up before changing her mind and pushing it away,’ James said.
‘The use of props like this can deflect attention for a moment to help avoid looking straight out at the audience.’
But the real details signaling the vice president’s discomfort came when she had to deliver her lines certifying Trump’s victory.
Donald Trump points to the camera at his election night victory party
A joint session of Congress convened to confirm the Electoral College votes
James told DailyMail.com that Harris started strong, but soon she floundered and her face and posture gave insights into the feelings she was trying to conceal.
‘When Harris began to speak she clasped her hands with her elbows held out in a gesture of authority. Those elbows also produced a subtle tell or cue to her inner feelings though.’
‘They began to pump in and out against her sides to suggest a sense of indignation while her jaw jut added to the impression of inner anger.’
When the vice president delivered the line recounting Trump’s winning 312 votes, that’s when her indignation began shining through her otherwise normal behavior.
‘Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes,’ Harris said in a steady, emotionless voice.
‘This announcement of the state of the vote by the president of the senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected president and vice president of the United States,’ she continued.
Vice President Kamala Harris talks to reporters after a joint session of Congress
Republican lawmakers erupted in a loud, triumphant roar after this pronouncement.
‘Her body bristling continued as she read out Trump’s 312 votes and her lips puckered at the cheers and standing ovation,’ the expert said.
After the room quieted down she announced her own election results.
‘Kamala Harris of the state of California received 226 votes,’ she continued, this time Democrats standing and cheering her on.
James said Harris had already lost her veneer of defiance, though.
‘She got a similar response when she read out her own 226 votes but instead of crowd-surfing by grinning and acknowledgement rituals she looked down in a cut-off gesture as she moved some papers about,’ the body language analyst surmised.
