Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for her first interview with the media since rising to the highest of the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket, shedding gentle on President Biden’s name asserting he was dropping out of the race, in addition to defending her current coverage flip-flops.
Harris rose to the highest of the ticket after Biden dropped out of the race final month following his disastrous debate efficiency in opposition to former President Donald Trump in June. The talk, which included Biden tripping over his phrases and dropping his practice of thought, opened the floodgates to conventional Democratic allies of the president becoming a member of conservatives in sounding the alarm over Biden’s psychological acuity and 81 years of age.
The extremely anticipated sit-down marks the primary interview Harris has held in 39 days, when she turned the presumptive nominee. Harris has largely averted the media since ascending the Democratic ticket, solely hardly ever answering media questions whereas on the marketing campaign path and holding no press conferences.
Harris was joined by her working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for the pre-taped CNN interview that aired Thursday night.
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Following Harris’ first sit-down interview with the media since ascending the ticket, Fox Information Digital compiled the highest 5 moments from the Savannah, Georgia, interview because the election cycle comes all the way down to its closing months.
Harris was requested twice about her “day one” agenda, however gave overarching solutions as a substitute of responding with a particular government order or directive.
“The voters are actually keen to listen to what your plans are. If you’re elected, what would you do on day one in the White Home?” Bash requested Harris.
“Properly, there are a variety of issues. I’ll inform you in the beginning certainly one of my highest priorities is to do what we are able to to help and strengthen the center class. After I have a look at the aspirations, the targets, the ambitions of the American folks, I believe that individuals are prepared for a brand new approach ahead in a approach that generations of People have been fueled by — by hope and by optimism.,” Harris responded.
“I believe sadly within the final decade, we’ve had within the former president somebody who has actually been pushing an agenda and an surroundings that’s about diminishing the character and the power of who we’re as People — actually dividing our nation. And I believe individuals are prepared to show the web page on that.
“So what would you do? Day one?” Bash pressed.
“Day one, it’s gonna be about one, implementing my plan for what I name a possibility economic system. I’ve already laid out a lot of proposals in that regard, which embody what we’re gonna do to deliver down the price of on a regular basis items, what we’re gonna do to spend money on America’s small companies, what we’re gonna do to spend money on households,” Harris mentioned.
“For instance, extending the kid tax credit score to $6,000 for households for the primary 12 months of their youngster’s life to assist them purchase a automotive seat, to assist them purchase child garments, a crib. There’s the work that we’re gonna do that’s about investing within the American household round reasonably priced housing, a giant difficulty in our nation proper now. So there are a variety of issues on day one.”
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Harris doubled down within the interview that she wouldn’t ban fracking if elected, claiming she made “clear” the place she stood on fracking through the 2020 election.
“No, and I made that clear on the controversy stage in 2020 that I might not ban fracking. As vice chairman, I didn’t ban fracking. As president, I can’t ban fracking,” Harris mentioned.
Earlier than Harris dropped her bid for president in 2019 and joined President Biden’s ticket, she mentioned throughout a CNN city corridor “there’s no query I’m in favor of banning fracking” on her first day in workplace.
Harris was requested about fracking throughout her 2020 vice presidential debate in opposition to then-Vice President Mike Pence however didn’t reveal her place on fracking, as a substitute saying Biden wouldn’t ban fracking. Fox Information Digital reviewed a transcript of the 2020 vice presidential debate and located “fracking” was talked about 9 instances, with Harris utilizing the phrase twice.
“Joe Biden won’t finish fracking. He has been very clear about that,” Harris mentioned through the debate in 2020 cycle.
“I’ll repeat, and the American folks know that Joe Biden won’t ban fracking. That may be a reality. That may be a reality,” she added throughout one other portion of the controversy.
Gov. Walz tried responsible his grammar when requested about his prior feedback that he needs to ban weapons like those he “carried in warfare,” despite the fact that he by no means noticed fight throughout his time within the Military Nationwide Guard.
“The nation is simply beginning to get to know you,” Bash famous earlier than asking him about his 2018 remarks. “I need to ask you a query about the way you described your service within the Nationwide Guard. You mentioned that you simply carried weapons in warfare, however you’ve got by no means deployed, truly, in a warfare zone. A marketing campaign official mentioned that you simply misspoke. Did you?”
Walz responded: “Properly, initially, I’m extremely proud. I’ve carried out 24 years of carrying the uniform of this nation. Equally happy with my service in a public faculty classroom, whether or not it’s Congress or — or the governor. My document speaks for itself, however I believe individuals are coming to get to know me. I — I converse like they do. I converse candidly. I put on my feelings on my sleeves, and I converse particularly passionately about — about our kids being shot in faculties and round — round weapons.”
Bash once more requested if he misspoke, sparking Walz to confess he did whereas citing his “grammar.”
“Yeah, I mentioned — we had been speaking about on this case, this was after a college capturing, the concepts of carrying these weapons of warfare. And my wifem the English instructor, advised me my grammar’s not all the time right. However once more, if it’s not this, it’s an assault on my youngsters for exhibiting love for me, or it’s an assault on my canine. I’m not gonna try this, and the one factor I’ll by no means do is I’ll by no means demean one other member’s service in any approach. I by no means have and I by no means will,” he responded.
Harris dodged answering whether or not Biden endorsed her to run in his place when he first referred to as and knowledgeable her he was bowing out of the election amid mounting concern over his psychological acuity.
“What in regards to the endorsement? Did you ask for it?” Bash requested Harris.
“He was very clear that he was gonna help me,” Harris responded.
“So when he referred to as to inform you, he mentioned, ‘I’m pulling out of the race, and I’m gonna help you?,’” Bash pressed Harris.
“Properly, my first thought was not about me to be sincere with you. My first thought was about him, to be sincere. I believe historical past is gonna present a lot of issues about Joe Biden’s presidency. I believe historical past is gonna present that in so some ways it was transformative, be it on what we’ve completed round lastly investing in America’s infrastructure, investing in new economics, in new industries, what we’ve carried out to deliver our allies again collectively, and trust in who we’re as America, and develop that alliance, what we’ve carried out to face true to our ideas together with the — the — one of the vital essential worldwide guidelines and norms, which is the significance of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she mentioned.
Biden did endorse Harris simply minutes after dropping out of the race in a message on X.
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“My very first determination because the occasion nominee in 2020 was to choose Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the most effective determination I’ve made. Immediately I need to supply my full help and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our occasion this 12 months. Democrats — it’s time to return collectively and beat Trump. Let’s do that,” he wrote.
Harris mentioned that she would appoint a Republican to her cupboard if elected, which follows a practice of presidents bringing on or retaining politicians from throughout the aisle till current historical past.
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“You had quite a lot of Republican audio system on the conference. Will you appoint a Republican to your cupboard?” Bash requested.
“Sure, I might.,” Harris responded, noting she doesn’t have a particular individual in thoughts.
Earlier than the respective Trump and Biden administrations, presidents have traditionally appointed politicians from the alternative occasion to their cupboard or stored on politicians from a earlier president of the alternative occasion.
Transportation Secretary underneath the Bush administration, Norm Mineta, for instance, was a Democrat, whereas President Invoice Clinton’s Secretary of Protection was Republican William Cohen, and former President Obama retained Bush’s Republican Secretary of Protection, Robert Gates.