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Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi win hearts with 'historic' elbow bump: 'Two great women behind Joe Biden'

'Fully vaccinated, wearing masks, shaking hands, THEN bumping elbows. If political theatre were a kindergarten play' said a social media user

Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made history on Wednesday, April 28 as the first women, one of them being an Indian American, to share the stage in Congress during a presidential address. The duo celebrated the moment with a super cool elbow bump, a pandemic spin on the traditional handshake. 

President Joe Biden noted the historic development at the opening of his address. After taking the podium, Biden greeted the two women standing behind him with a “Madam Speaker” and “Madam Vice President.” He then declared, “No president has ever said those words — and it’s about time.” After which, Pelosi and Kamala elbow bumped each other. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, people have started to maintain social distance from each other, trying to be as less physical contact as necessary. Hence, instead of hugging each other, or shaking hands, people have started elbow bumping each other as a form of greeting.

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Pelosi and Harris stood side by side behind the dais in the House chamber, chatting with each other and occasionally waving to lawmakers as the group waited for Biden to arrive. As soon as Harris and Pelosi's elbow bump happened, people started talking about it as it had its awkward moments as well. The duo first linked hands and immediately shifted to an elbow bump. Both gestures earned flak and praise on social media. One said, "Two great women behind Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi." Another user said, "Two women standing behind the president in joint address to congress for the first time in history. Iconic." While another one said, "Fully vaccinated, wearing masks, shaking hands, THEN bumping elbows. If political theatre were a kindergarten play."

One person who got "wmotiona" watching the two women said, "Seeing this made me unexpectedly emotional. So much of what we've endured the past 5 years will be left out of the history books and forgotten. But this right here, two WOMEN sitting behind the President for the first time in our country's history is a really REALLY big deal." Another one tweeted "This is both fantastic and ground-breaking to witness. First time two women are at the dais for the #SOTU in American history. @VPKamala Harris and @SpeakerPelosi bump elbows as they greet each other in advance of President @JoeBiden’s address."

One questioned "Do y'all hear yourselves? YAY two women will get to stare at the back of the head of the man actually giving a speech for the FIRST time." While some labeled it an "interesting sight" and said, "An impressive sight. About damned time!"

Slamming the elbow bump one said, "The Elbow bump is the dumbest attempt to replace a good old fashion handshake. I will fist bump to please but I refuse to stick my elbow out. I'd rather have you just say hello." Another one said, "Hey kids - Get vaccinated! You too can double mask and elbow bump inside an empty room like a cultist."

One tweeted, "It will be incredibly theatrical, as always. Biden will stumble down the galley in a mask ..probably elbow bumping a few idiots along the way. Once he gets behind the podium. He will make a show of slowly removing his mask. A pathetic, weak, embarrassing spectacle." While another one wrote, "Biden, who has been vaccinated, elbow-bumps Pelosi (who has been vaccinated and is wearing a mask) and Harris (who has been vaccinated and is wearing a mask) as if they were lepers he was terrified of touching."

Harris, 56, made history last year after she became the first woman and first Black and Indian American person to be elected as vice president of US. In her role as president of the Senate, she joins Pelosi to preside over the joint session of Congress.