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Recently, Kamala Harris appeared in an aggressive interview for Fox News, during which she assured that her presidency would be very different from Biden’s administration. This exchange was during a 30-minute interview with Bret Baier on October 16, 2024, in Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pennsylvania.
During the interview, Harris, who is now the Democratic presidential nominee thanks to Biden’s withdrawal from the race earlier this year, stressed that she wants to walk her own way. “It must be clear that my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris denied. Finally, there was a statement, ‘I introduce a new generation of leadership and new ideas.’
This pledge comes when Harris, 59, wants to reassure the state’s GOP supporters, who are skeptical of Trump, as well as Biden’s administration. It was clearly combative with sharp questioning from both sides during the immigration debate and the debate on gender transition surgery, where Harris had to ask Baier “May I finish” several times because the latter kept trying to cut in her response. These have been key issues of contention in the current election cycle, and Harris seized this chance to give a policy stance and equally respond to right-wing persecution.
Major policy progression events and incidents with Baier
The interview turned a few times to the right, and Harris defended the Biden administration and accused the show host of lying about their approach to handling the issue of immigration. Next, Baier asked Harris about record-high rates of unlawful border crossings during the Biden administration and got a reply that their administration had developed more advanced ideas regarding border security and even introduced a border security bill. (Regarding immigration) We put forward a bill for enhanced border security, but Donald Trump specifically directed Republicans to thwart it, said Harris, responding to her Republican rival.
Baier also questioned Harris on other social issues such as trans surgeries for inmates, including undocumented ones, which is an issue Republicans addressed in their recent TV ads. Harris said, “I will follow the law and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” referring to the fact that such care was given during Trump’s administration, according to The New York Times.
Clear Break from Biden
One of the most dramatic parts of the interview is when Baier confronted Harris about her bizarre statement that she would not change much from Biden. This comment had been amplified by Republicans in the recent past few weeks. Harris, however, came out strongly to redefine her stand, stating, “My presidency will in no way be shaped by Joe Biden’s presidency.” The only response I have for this is that I have great respect for Joe, “but I will follow my own way to create a future.”.
Harris’ comments shed the increasing emphasis on avoiding being associated with Biden as the aging president officially stepped down from the race following an unimpressive debate with Trump in the early part of summer. Biden himself said only early this week that Harris “will cut her own path” as president, underscoring her distancing from him.
Attacks on Trump
Aside from laying out her future policies, Harris also went on an assault against the man who she will be principally competing against in the next elections, former President Donald Trump. On Trump’s part, Harris dismissed him as a divider who degradingly wants to use the military against fellow citizens. He speaks of an ‘Enemy Within,’ but he himself is the architect of the divide and rule approach to our nation.
These came without taking much time off Harris, who has been attacking the Trend Micro official. Usually very active on social media, especially intervening during his presidency, Trump went particularly on his platform, Truth Social, where he discussed the Baier interview, stating she was tough but fair, and in response to Harris, he described her as ‘totally incompetent’. Harris was nevertheless unbending throughout the interview, always bringing the answers back to Trump’s policies, especially immigration and military-related ones, although she acknowledged the president’s support for the military by saying ‘Thank you, sir!’ at one point in the interview.
A Gamble on Fox News
It is quite unambiguously calculated Harris’s decision to go to Fox News just a few weeks before the election, which seems to be a very close one. Surveys reveal that Harris and Trump remain tied as they campaign for the presidency, and therefore any public platform is very important.
Baier asked Harris several difficult questions that obviously put her on the spot in order to see how she would respond to the most incendiary problems of the present, but she was diligent in steering the conversation back to her platform, which hinges on healing the nation after the polarizing Biden-Trump era.
The interview coincides with a time when Trump is also increasing his media visibility as well. On Wednesday, Trump answered questions from Hispanic voters in Miami aired on Univsion; Trump again claimed the election was rigged and reinforced his views on border security.
Looking Forward
Harris and Trump have weeks now before the November election, and they are already on their toes as they apply all measures in their strategies. Harris will keep campaigning across the swing states like Wisconsin in the next week while Trump is set for multiple interviews, podcasts, and rallies to mobilize his supporters.
The fact that Harris, who goes out of her way to get invited to Fox News, a network that is largely favorable to Trump, in order to directly confront Trump, shows she has no qualms about going against Trump on his own turf. Whether this strategy would be effective come election time is still up for debate, but Harris sure showed she is willing to go to the mat for every single vote during this interview.
