Kamala Harris’s defeat in the 2024 election left her party reeling and the media scrambling, but for conservatives, it was a day of celebration—and, of course, commentary. Conservative voices like Greg Gutfeld took the opportunity to deliver stinging critiques of the Democratic strategy, identity politics, and the celebrity elite who threw their weight behind Harris.
Gutfeld’s monologue on The Five was a mix of blistering humor and cultural takedown, comparing the race to a battle between supporters of a “euthanized squirrel” and those backing the Hollywood elite represented by Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Gutfeld captured the conservative perspective on the 2024 election’s core message: Trump’s appeal was one of recovery, a promise that “we don’t have to live this way,” while Harris’s campaign doubled down on a narrative of dependency. For Gutfeld, Harris’s message was like the manipulative plea of a bad relationship: “If you break up with us, your life will be over.” This dynamic, he argued, was the fundamental difference that drove voters to embrace Trump’s vision, not as a protest but as a statement of confidence in a way forward.
These are some of the most brutal jokes Gutfeld has ever told and I’m loving every second! 😂 pic.twitter.com/vB6fItKyCG
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) November 7, 2024
Then there was the symbolic clash between Hollywood and middle America. For every star-studded endorsement Harris received from names like Jennifer Lopez and the cast of The Avengers, Trump’s camp lined up the support of Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and even RFK Jr. For Gutfeld, the contrast couldn’t be more clear: Harris’s celebrity supporters represented a “decadent, elitist, amoral faction” oblivious to the struggles of everyday Americans, while Trump’s backers embodied the real-life superheroes of free speech, innovation, and accountability.
Gutfeld’s critique of legacy media was also central to his rant. The polling “experts” had assured the public this election would be close, that key issues like abortion would doom Trump, and that Harris was on solid footing in the swing states. But when the votes were counted, it was clear the media had misread the electorate once again.
Conservative commentators pointed out that independent voices like Musk, Rogan, and alternative media platforms seemed to have more influence in spreading the conservative message than the legacy media had in convincing voters otherwise.
The reaction from the left, predictably, was one of disbelief and outrage. Across cities like Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, protestors took to the streets to denounce what they called Trump’s “reactionary agenda,” his promises of deportations, and his unwavering support for Israel. This wave of protests underscored how deeply divided the nation remains, with left-wing activists already mobilizing around issues of immigration, police reform, and LGBTQ+ rights in anticipation of Trump’s return to office.
But amidst the protests, conservative commentators saw another message: identity politics and celebrity virtue-signaling had finally lost their appeal. As Hosea sees it, Harris’s defeat was a repudiation of the divisive, identity-based strategies the Democratic Party has relied on. In this election, Americans of all backgrounds—Black, white, Hispanic, and even Amish—voted for Trump not because of any shared identity but out of a shared frustration with the status quo and a belief in Trump’s promises to tackle inflation, secure the border, and restore economic stability.
