In a combative interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to chart a distinct path from President Joe Biden, signaling a shift as she seeks to win over Republican voters wary of Donald Trump. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, clashed with host Bret Baier on contentious issues like immigration and gender transition surgery, repeatedly asserting, “May I finish,” as Baier interrupted her responses.
A pivotal moment came when Harris was pressed on remarks she made the previous week, comments that have been seized upon by Republicans. Harris had initially said there was nothing she would have done differently from Biden during his term, a statement she sought to clarify during the interview.
“My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris, 59, declared, emphasizing her commitment to “fresh and new ideas” and presenting herself as “a new generation of leadership.” Harris became the Democratic nominee after Biden, facing mounting concerns about his age, dropped out of the race in July. Biden himself has said Harris will “cut her own path” as president.
During the interview, Harris unleashed sharp criticism against former President Trump, calling out his rhetoric on internal enemies and his controversial remarks about deploying the military domestically. “He’s the one who tends to demean, belittle, and diminish the American people. He’s the one who talks about an ‘enemy within,’” Harris said, taking aim at Trump’s divisive language.
A Risky Move
Harris’s decision to sit down with Fox News was a high-stakes gamble with less than three weeks to go in a race that remains highly competitive. Trump, 78, responded to the interview on his Truth Social platform, mocking Harris’s performance: “Again, congratulations to Bret Baier on a tough but very fair interview, one that clearly showed how totally incompetent Kamala is.”
Throughout the half-hour interview, Harris faced pointed questions about Trump campaign ads, illegal immigration, and the Biden administration’s policies. Baier grilled Harris on the record-high numbers of migrants crossing the Mexican border, a key issue for Republican voters. Harris defended the administration’s efforts, noting that immigration numbers have fallen recently and pointing out that the Biden-Harris administration had proposed increased border security, a bill she claimed was blocked by Trump.
Another heated exchange centered around gender-affirming surgery for prisoners and undocumented immigrants, a topic featured in recent Trump campaign ads. Harris reiterated her commitment to following the law, adding that Trump’s own administration had provided similar care.
When Baier questioned her about Biden’s mental acuity before he stepped down, Harris quickly redirected the focus back to Trump: “Bret, Joe Biden is not on the ballot. And Donald Trump is.”
Trump Fires Back
As Harris faced tough questioning on Fox, Trump appeared at a Univision event in Miami, fielding questions from Hispanic voters. He continued his hardline stance on immigration, claiming without evidence that the U.S. is being flooded with individuals from foreign prisons and mental institutions. Trump also reiterated his stance on the January 6 Capitol riots, calling the day a “day of love,” and once again casting doubt on the reality of climate change.
With the campaign intensifying, Trump is set to appear on a podcast Thursday, while Harris heads to Wisconsin, a key swing state, to continue her outreach efforts.
