Kamala Harris tells CNN that Trump is ‘dividing our nation’
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris talked about her plan to promote an “opportunity economy” and defended her past policy changes and her record as vice president during her first high-profile news interview since rising to the top of the ticket earlier this month.
Vice President Harris sat down with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for a lengthy conversation with CNN veteran Dana Bash, who ran through a number of issues during the closely watched interview, which the network expanded into an hour-long special: “The First Interview: Harris-Walz.” The interview was pre-recorded earlier in the day as Harris and Walz campaigned in Savannah, Georgia.
When Harris was asked what she would do on day one if elected, she said: “It’s about implementing my plan for what I call an ‘opportunity economy,’” she said. “I’ve already made a number of proposals, including what we’re going to do to bring down the cost of everyday goods, what we’re going to do is invest in America’s small businesses” and also in families with her proposal for a permanent $1 child tax credit 6,000 for low- and middle-income families.
The heavily promoted sit-down follows the Harris-Walz campaign’s successful Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which rallied party stalwarts and gave Democrats a typical post-convention rebound in the polls. But Harris has faced criticism and doubts about her abilities because she has done few interviews with journalists since becoming vice president in January 2021. In late July, Harris was drawn into her history-making campaign when 81-year-old Biden agreed to widespread calls for him to withdraw from the race given his advancing years.
Harris defended her 180-degree change in energy policy, backing away from promising a fracking ban. During her first presidential election in 2019, she promised to ban the natural gas extraction process, which has major environmental consequences. Harris told Bash that her position on fracking changed in 2020, noting that she took no steps to enact such a ban during her time as vice president. “I kept my word and I will keep my word,” she said.
Harris kept shots at former President Donald Trump, her Republican opponent, to a minimum. But she did not shy away from criticizing him for representing a dangerous force in America.
“First and foremost, one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class. When I look at the aspirations, the goals and the aspirations of the American people, I think they are ready for a new path forward, in a way that generations of Americans have been fueled by, by hope and by optimism,” Harris said. CNN. “Unfortunately, in the former president, we have had someone over the last decade who has really pushed an agenda and an environment that is aimed at diminishing the character of who we are as Americans, truly dividing our nation.”
Later in the interview, Harris was more pointed about her stylistic differences with Trump. She accused the billionaire real estate developer turned politician of reflecting a different era for American politics.
“I’m talking about an era that started about a decade ago where there’s some suggestion that the measure of a leader’s strength is based on who you beat rather than where I think most Americans are, which is believing that the The true measure of a leader’s strength is based on who you elevate,” she said.
Bash has confronted Walz about a number of questions that have arisen about his past statements and actions. Walz proved an effective campaigner by turning his answer into a policy point that also draws a major distinction between Harris and Trump. Walz has been criticized for repeatedly claiming that he and his wife underwent IVF treatments while trying to start a family, using another fertility procedure known as IUI, or intrauterine insemination. Walz called that a distraction around the real issue of each candidate’s position on abortion and reproductive rights.
“Most Americans get it. If you’ve been through that, I don’t think they cut hair with IVF or IUI,” Walz said. “I think they are cutting off abortion bans and the ability to deny families the opportunity to have a beautiful child.” Walz was also pressed about what critics have said are past exaggerations about his military service with “weapons of war” in the National Guard. Walz dodged the response, again suggesting that the outrage over this was a storm in a teapot that overshadowed the more important issues surrounding gun safety and gun control policy. “I think people know me. They know who I am. They know where my heart is,” Walz said.
Other issues Harris highlighted as priorities for her administration if she were to win in November included climate change, inflation, affordable housing programs and the opioid and fentanyl epidemic across the country. She also strengthened her support for US support for the Israeli attacks on Gaza. She reiterated recent statements that the Biden administration is focused on ceasefire negotiations. She vowed to pursue “what we need to do.” [ensure] Israel is safe and in equal measure Palestinians have security, self-determination and dignity.”
Harris and Walz avoided any major gaffes during the pre-recorded interview. Harris sounded like a former prosecutor as she confidently delivered her closing statement to Bash. “I’m running because I believe I am the best person at this time to do this work for all Americans, regardless of race and gender,” she said.
