Kamala Harris Declines Invite for JD Vance to Visit VP Residence

Ahead of the president-elect's inauguration, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, declined the traditional invite for her successor, JD Vance, to visit the Naval Observatory, the vice presidential residence, which has been a customary gesture since the 1970s. This decision has been confirmed by several Democratic and Republican sources, with reports stating that the Vance family was offered a briefing about the residence’s layout by Navy officials but not a sit-down meeting or tour. The decision to decline the invite appears to stem from a perceived slight of Harris not receiving a similar invitation after Joe Biden’s victory in 2020. Leading up to the inauguration, communication between the Vance team and the naval aides overseeing the residence took place to assist the Vance family with logistics and child-proofing considerations for their young children. Usha Vance, JD Vance’s wife, reached out to Harris’s office for assistance but reportedly was rebuffed by a Harris aide, prompting a somewhat strained relationship. The aides helping Vance suggest that they were not provided with the same welcome that previous vice presidents had received, despite claims from Harris's supporters justifying her decision based on priorities following the recent California wildfires. While the relationship between the Biden administration and the Trump administration has been characterized as warmer than past transitions, the lack of a planned meeting or tour emphasizes the ongoing tensions. Notably, previous vice presidents, such as Dick Cheney towards Joe Biden in 2009 and Biden towards Mike Pence in 2016, have traditionally conducted such welcoming ceremonies, drawing further attention to this departure from custom. Despite the political implications of the gesture, sources close to Harris have defended her rationale, mentioning her focus on urgent matters such as the wildfires. Meanwhile, advisors note that tensions during the last days of the Trump administration following the Capitol Hill riot on January 6 had complicated potential arrangements. The situation also reflects broader themes in contemporary political transitions, particularly regarding the dynamics between parties and the importance of traditional practices in establishing cooperative relations.