Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to be trying to change her tone after returning to her message calling former President Donald Trump a “dictator” and disparaging 13 Gold Star families on Saturday.
“We will not forgive him,” Harris wrote on X on Sunday, captioning a photo of Trump with the caption, “Donald Trump vows to be a dictator from day one in office.”
We will not forgive him. pic.twitter.com/dLg9QOzkiI
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 1, 2024
Harris' statement is completely false, as Trump has always defended America First policies and American workers over globalism and foreigners. Trump also mentioned this claim in December 2023, when the Democratic Party was still supporting President Joe Biden as a capable and mentally strong candidate to run against Trump in 2024.
“But I want to come back to this issue, because the media has focused on this and they've attacked you under any circumstances. You're making a promise to America tonight, you're never going to abuse your power in retaliation against anybody?” Sean Hannity asked Trump in an interview.
“Except on day one,” Trump replied. When asked what that meant, Trump essentially said he intended to take executive action on his first day in office to undo some of the damage the Biden-Harris administration has done.
“I want to close the border and keep drilling, drilling, drilling,” Trump explained.
“That's not retaliation. Got it,” Hannity replied, before Trump could elaborate further.
“I said, he says, we love the guy. You're not going to be a dictator, right? I said, no, no, no, except on day one. We're closing the border, we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator,” Trump added.
Oddly, Harris conveniently chose to revive the “Trump is a dictator” narrative the day after slamming Gold Star families and accusing them of essentially functioning as political tools.
WATCH — Afghanistan's Gold Star Father: Biden 'failed at every level', prioritized appearances, departed on 9/11:
Her statement came in response to President Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the 13 fallen soldiers killed during the Biden-Harris administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As Vice President, I had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery several times. It is a solemn place, a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
It is not the place for politics.
and…
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024
Trump, on the other hand, said that the following members of the public, including Misty Foco, sister of Sergeant Nicole Gee; Cheryl Jewels, Gee's aunt; Christy Shamblin, Gee's stepmother; Mark Schmitz, father of Corporal Jared Schmitz; Jacqueline Schmitz, stepmother; Herman Lopez, father of Corporal Hunter Lopez; Jim McCollum, father of Corporal Riley McCollum; Steve Nikoi, father of Corporal Kareem Nikoi; Coral Doolittle, mother of Corporal Humberto Sanchez; Darin Huber, father of Staff Sergeant Taylor Huber; and Kelly Barnett, mother of Huber, “shamefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.” He also denied Harris' criticism, saying she had “disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.”
I want to thank the families of our great warriors who have left us for standing together as one and for attending, at their request, the celebration of their amazing family members who have been lost because of the incompetence of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/ewkbVniBC0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
“As families of the brave servicemen and women tragically killed in the Abbey Gate bombing, we are appalled by Vice President Kamala Harris' attempt to politicize President Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery,” the statement read.
“President Trump was invited by our Gold Star families to attend a solemn ceremony marking three years since the deaths of our children,” the statement continued. “He was there to honor their sacrifice, but Vice President Harris shamefully exploited this sacred moment for political ploys.”
