Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines this week when she formally accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

However, some critics derided the process leading up to that moment as being "fake" and a reflection of panic among Democrats. 

Harris accepts nomination at Milwaukee rally

According to Fox News, Harris was not present at the convention in Chicago on Tuesday when a roll call among state delegates proclaimed her and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be their nominees.

"The delegates at the Democratic National Convention, well they just completed their roll call," Harris told supporters at a rally in Milwaukee.

"I thank everyone there and here for believing in what we can do together. We are so honored to be your nominees," the vice president went on to declare. "This is a people power campaign, and together we will chart a new way forward."

Yet Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York pointed out in a social media post that the move was "confirmatory and ceremonial."

Democrats change rules to speed up nomination process

That's because Harris was already nominated on July 30 through a virtual roll call following a recent rule change by the Democratic Party.

As the Associated Press reported, the convention's rules committee adopted new procedures late last month under which delegates would vote for their nominee weeks before they assembled in Chicago.

That fact led Breitbart contributor Joel B. Pollak to dismiss Tuesday's proceedings as a "fake" process done entirely for show.

"The convention retained the form of a traditional roll call vote, with each state having a turn to cast its votes for the two candidates," he wrote.

Change may have been prompted by fear of convention disruption

"Instead of an actual vote, however, the event became a concert, with rap artist Lil Jon performing," Pollak went on to add.

Atlanta rapper and producer Lil Jon makes a surprise appearance at the DNC performing “Turn Down for What" during the Georgia delegation's roll call vote. pic.twitter.com/ceTrCH3FR8

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 21, 2024

It is not clear why Democrats felt compelled to ensure that Harris' nomination was formalized before the convention, although it may have stemmed from a concern that the event would be disrupted by anti-Israel protesters.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump at one point suggested that President Joe Biden might renounce his decision to drop out and use the convention as a chance to wrest control of the party away from Harris.