Kamala Harris hosts Angela Merkel for breakfast at her newly-renovated Naval Observatory home after more of the VP’s former staffers came forward with claims of a toxic culture in her offices
- Vice President Kamala Harris hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel for breakfast Thursday at her Naval Observatory home
- It marks the first time One Observatory Circle has been used by the VP to host a foreign leader since Harris was sworn-in
- Harris greeted Merkel by complimenting her ‘extraordinary career’ noting that she’s part of the fourth U.S. administration to host the German chancellor
- ‘I’m very proud that I believe that I am the first vice president to host you at the official residence of the vice president,’ Harris said
- Since January, Harris has hosted world leaders prior to them visiting President Joe Biden at the White House, but had done so virtually or at her office
Vice President Kamala Harris hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel for breakfast Thursday at her Naval Observatory home, marking the first time she’s hosted a foreign leader at the residence.
‘We are pleased to welcome you Madam Chancellor and I know we are the fourth administration that you have worked with throughout your extraordinary career. want to thank you for your years of leadership,’ Harris told Merkel outside the vice president’s residence. ‘I’m very proud that I believe that I am the first vice president to host you at the official residence of the vice president,’ Harris added.
The home at One Observatory Circle was under renovation when Harris was sworn-in in January, but she’s used it more recently to host a staff barbecue following reports of a toxic culture brewing at the VP’s office.
Vice President Kamala Harris (right) greeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) in front of her Naval Observatory home Thursday morning in advance of Merkel’s bilateral meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden
The working breakfast marked the first time Vice President Kamala Harris (left) has been able to host a world leader at the residence, which was under construction when Harris was sworn-in in January
‘Please, let’s have breakfast, please,’ Vice President Kamala Harris (left) told German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) as the two leaders met outside Harris’ Naval Observatory home for a working breakfast
Vice President Kamala Harris (left) greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) at her Naval Observatory home for a working breakfast Thursday before Merkel visits President Joe Biden at the White House
Business Insider published a follow-up story quoting former Harris aides as they reacted to Politico’s initial report that described, according to one source, the vice presdent’s office as an ‘abusive environment.’
Business Insider reported that one former Harris staffer forwarded the Politico piece to their therapist with a note attached: ‘Rarely in life are we publicly vindicated.’ The aide told Insider that they went to therapy to ‘resolve trauma from the on-the-job abuse’ after finding out Harris would be the vice presidential nominee.
Other ex-aides stuck up for Harris and her management style.
An ex-staffer from her days as California’s attorney general called the coverage ‘totally inevitable.’
‘We could have foreseen this scrutiny,’ the aide told Insider. ‘We could have foreseen this scrutiny. It seems to me to be more gendered, the idea that strong women are b***hes and she’s just another one.’
The reports haven’t impacted President Joe Biden putting Harris front-and-center on a number of issues.
She met with the delegation of Texas Democrats who fled the state earlier this week to stall a GOP-endorsed voting bill.
And, as the administration has done in the past, she’s played the role of greeter for a foreign leader visit, though at the beginning of her tenure she met with leaders virtually due to the pandemic and then at her ceremonnial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, while the Naval Observatory residence was under renovation.
On Thursday morning, she and Merkel made brief welcoming remarks in front of the cameras.
‘I’m very honored to see you and I look forward to our conversation and it goes without saying that the relationship between our two countries is one founded on many shared values, including a commitment to democracy around the world,’ Harris said. ‘So, welcome, welcome.’
Through a translator Merkel responded, ‘I can only say that I’m delighted too for this opportunity here to meet the first Madam Vice President of the United States of America and I think that we can indeed cooperate very well in order to boost values.’
‘Please, let’s have breakfast please,’ Harris said, escorting the German chancellor into the home.