In a high-stakes appearance on Fox News, Vice President Kamala Harris took on a series of challenging questions from host Bret Baier, marking her first interview on the conservative network. The 30-minute exchange touched on key issues such as immigration, the economy, and the Biden administration’s record, underscoring the Democratic candidate’s efforts to appeal to right-leaning voters.
The interview was part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding Harris’ voter base, as she had earlier attended a campaign event in Pennsylvania alongside over 100 Republicans. Though the interview was tense at times, Harris remained firm, at one point requesting Baier to ensure the conversation was “grounded in full assessment of the facts.” Here are the key takeaways from the interview:
1. Immigration Policy Debate
Immigration was a central issue during the interview, with Harris defending the Biden administration’s response to the surge of illegal immigration at the southern border. She laid the blame squarely on Republicans for failing to pass comprehensive immigration reforms.
Baier questioned Kamala Harris on the administration’s decision to roll back some of Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies. In response, Kamala Harris acknowledged the concerns of a mother who lost her child to an undocumented immigrant but shifted the conversation to the broader issue.
“I’m so sorry for her loss, but let’s talk about what is happening right now,” she said, emphasizing the need for bipartisan efforts to address immigration. Kamala Harris claimed Trump had encouraged Republicans to reject previous immigration reforms, accusing him of “preferring to run on a problem rather than fix it.”
2. Biden-Harris Record Under Scrutiny
When asked about her comment that there was “not a thing” she would change about the Biden administration, Harris clarified that her potential presidency would not merely be a continuation of Joe Biden’s term. “Let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” she stated but did not provide further details.
Harris was also pressed on Biden’s health, with Baier asking if she noticed any signs of diminished mental faculties. She stood by the president, affirming his experience and judgment. “The people who know Trump best have said he is unfit to be president ever again,” she remarked, adding, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot, Donald Trump is.”
3. Foreign Policy and the Middle East
Foreign policy questions, particularly regarding the Middle East, focused on Iran, which Harris singled out as America’s greatest adversary. Baier questioned whether the Biden administration was prioritizing Iran as the top threat. In response, Harris stressed her unwavering commitment to ensuring Israel’s security, particularly against Iranian aggression and terrorist proxies in the region.
Throughout the exchange, Kamala Harris pushed back against Baier’s questioning style, stating, “I would like if we could have a conversation that is grounded in a full assessment of the facts.”
4. Trump and Leadership
The topic of Donald Trump was inevitable, and Harris didn’t hold back in her critique. “People are exhausted with someone who professes to be a leader and who spends full-time demeaning and engaging in personal grievances,” she said, describing Trump as unstable. She urged viewers to focus on Trump’s divisive rhetoric, including his references to “the enemy within” and threats to punish political rivals.
Kamala Harris also addressed questions on her position regarding taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgery for transgender inmates, including undocumented individuals. She highlighted that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons provided such treatments even during Trump’s presidency, calling out the former president for “throwing stones when you live in a glass house.”