Vice President Kamala Harris, in her first media interview since emerging as the leading 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, opened up about the phone call with President Biden announcing he was dropping out of the race and defended his recent policy shifts.
Harris rose to the top of the list of candidates after Biden dropped out of the race last month following a disastrous June debate with former President Donald Trump. Biden's stuttering and disorganized speech during the debate prompted some of the president's traditional Democratic supporters to join conservatives in raising alarms about Biden's lack of mental acuity and his advanced age of 81.
The highly anticipated interview marks Harris' first in 39 days since becoming the presumptive nominee. She has largely shunned the media since launching her Democratic candidacy, rarely answering media questions during campaign hours and not holding a press conference.
Harris appeared alongside her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in a pre-recorded interview on CNN that aired Thursday night.
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Harris and Walz are scheduled to appear in an interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash to air Thursday night. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Following Harris' first in-person media interview since winning the nomination, and with just a few months left in the campaign, Fox News Digital compiled five of the best moments from the interview in Savannah, Georgia.
Harris botches first day question
Harris was asked twice about her “day one” agenda but gave general answers rather than responding with specific executive orders or directives.
“Voters really want to hear your plan. If you're elected, what would you do on your first day in the White House?” Bash asked Harris.
“Well, there are a few things. First, I would say one of my top priorities is to do what I can to support and strengthen the middle class. When I look at the aspirations, goals and ambitions of the American people, I think people are ready to embark on a new path forward in the ways that hope and optimism have fueled generations of Americans,” Harris replied.
“Unfortunately, I think over the last 10 years, the former president has been someone who has really promoted policies and an environment that has weakened our character and our strength as Americans and divided our country, and I think the public is looking to move away from that.”
“So what will you do on your first day?” Bash demanded.
“Day one will be focused on delivering on what I call the Opportunity Economy. I've already laid out some proposals on that front, including what we'll do to lower the prices of everyday goods, what we'll do to invest in American small businesses, what we'll do to invest in families,” Harris said.
“For example, we're expanding the child tax credit for families to $6,000 to help them buy car seats, baby clothes, cribs in the first year after a child is born. What we're trying to do is work on investing in American families around affordable housing, which is a big issue in our country right now. So we have a lot of work to do starting on Day One.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz spoke to CNN. (CNN)
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Harris says she made her position clear in 2020 in favor of allowing fracking, but it wasn't hers.
In the interview, Harris stressed that she would not ban fracking if elected, and claimed she made her position on fracking “clear” during the 2020 election.
“No, I said in the 2020 debates that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking,” Harris said.
Before Harris He gave up on running for president in 2019 “There's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking,” she said at a CNN rally on President Biden's first day in office, as she joined his campaign.
Harris was asked about fracking during the 2020 vice presidential debate with then-Vice President Mike Pence but did not take a position, instead saying Biden would not ban fracking. A Fox News Digital review of the 2020 vice presidential debate transcripts found that the term “fracking” was mentioned nine times and used by Harris twice.
“Joe Biden is not going to end fracking. He's made that very clear,” Harris said. Under discussion In the 2020 cycle.
“I repeat, the American people know that Joe Biden is not going to ban fracking. That's a fact. That's a fact,” she added at another moment during the debate.
Walz cites “Grammar” for false gun claims “Brought to you by war”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, US Democratic Party vice presidential candidate, takes the stage on the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago on August 21, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Seeger)
When asked about his previous comments that he wanted to ban guns that he “carried into war” despite never having seen combat during his time in the Army National Guard, Governor Walz tried to take down his grammar.
“The public is just starting to get to know you,” Bash said, before asking about his 2018 comments. “I want to know how you described your service in the National Guard. You said you carried a weapon in a war, but you never actually deployed to a combat zone. Your campaign officials say that statement is false. Is that true?”
Walz responded: “First of all, I'm very proud. I've served in the uniform of this country for 24 years. I'm equally proud to have served in public school classrooms, whether it be in Congress or as governor. My record speaks for itself, but I think people want to get to know me, and I'll speak to them the same way. I'll speak candidly. I don't hide my feelings and I speak especially passionately about kids getting shot in schools and around guns.”
Bash asked again if Waltz had misspoken, and Waltz acknowledged that he had, citing “grammar.”
“Yes, I said. We were talking about this. This was after the school shooting. The idea of carrying weapons of war. My wife, who is an English teacher, said my grammar isn't always right. But if this wasn't there, it's an attack on my children who have shown affection for me, it's an attack on my dog. I don't do that, and what I would never do is disrespect the service of another member in any way. I have never done that, and I never will,” he replied.
Harris declined to say whether Biden offered his support in the withdrawal call.
Harris declined to say whether Biden had endorsed her to run in his place when he first told her in a phone call he was dropping out of the race amid growing concerns about his mental health.
“What about the recommendation? Did you ask for it?” Bash asked Harris.
“He's made it clear that he supports me,” Harris responded.
“So when he called and told you, he said, 'I'm dropping out of the race, but I'm endorsing you?'” Bash pressed Harris.
“To be honest, my first thought was not of myself. To be honest, my first thought was of him. I think history will say a lot about Joe Biden's term as a president. I think history will show that it has been transformative in many ways: investment in American infrastructure, investment in a new economy, new industries, what we have done to reunite our allies, what we have done to have confidence as an America and expand its alliances, and what we have done to stay true to our principles, including the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is one of the most important international rules and norms,” she said.
Biden endorsed Harris just minutes after dropping out of the race over his X message.
Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first media interview since emerging as the front-runner in the Democratic field. (CNN)
Harris claims she “clarified” her position on fracking in 2020 — records tell a different story
“My first decision as the 2020 nominee was to select Kamala Harris as my VP, and it was the best decision I ever made. Today I fully endorse and support Kamala to be our party's nominee this year. Fellow Democrats, it's time to unite and defeat Trump. Let's do it,” he wrote.
If elected, Harris will appoint Republicans to her cabinet.
Harris has said that if elected, she would appoint Republicans to her cabinet, following a recent tradition of presidents welcoming or retaining politicians from their political opposition into their cabinets.
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“There were a lot of Republican speakers at the convention. Are you going to appoint Republicans to your cabinet?” Bash asked.
“Yes I would,” Harris replied, but said she didn't have anyone in particular in mind.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
Prior to the Trump and Biden administrations, it was common for presidents to appoint politicians from the opposing party to their cabinet or retain politicians from the previous president's party.
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For example, the Bush administration's Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, was a Democrat, but President Bill Clinton's Secretary of Defense was Republican William Cohen, and former President Obama retained Bush's Republican Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.
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