Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris arrives for a campaign event at the Dart Financial Center on October 4, 2024 in Flint, Michigan.
Jeff Robbins | Afp | Good pictures
Kamala Harris distanced herself from President Joe Biden on Wednesday and attacked her Republican presidential rival, Donald Trump, in a heated interview with Fox News host Brett Baier.
“Let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris told the conservative news network, after Bayer pressed him on whether he would do anything different than the vice presidency.
“And as every new president comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, my professional experiences and new and fresh ideas,” the Democratic nominee said.
The 26-minute interview focused heavily on immigration, and Harris again blamed Trump for killing a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the crisis at the southern border.
The interview was tense from the first exchange, with Bayer repeatedly interrupting Harris’ opening response on immigration. “Please allow me to finish … I’m in the middle of answering the point you’re raising and I’d like to finish,” Harris said at the beginning.
Here are the memorable moments
- On whether he should apologize to the families of three women killed by undocumented immigrants:
I think we’ve had a broken immigration system that has defied the administration of Donald Trump. Let’s all be honest about it. I am not proud to say that this is a perfect immigration system. I think we all need to fix that.”
- In a new Trump ad about taxpayer dollars being used for gender reassignment
“I think so [Trump] He spent $20 million on those ads trying to instill fear in voters because he has no plans to actually focus on the needs of the American people in this election. $20 million, in that ad, on an issue that has to do with some of the biggest issues affecting the American people, is really far-fetched. Again, his policy is no different.”
- In ways she is different from Biden
“I represent a new generation of leadership. For example, I’m someone who hasn’t spent most of my life in Washington, DC. I invite ideas from the Republicans who support me on the stage, with me a few minutes ago, and the business sector and others who can contribute to the decisions I make.”
- Trump’s speech to voters
“He is the one who speaks of an enemy within. inside, An enemy within, talking about the American people. He suggested that he would turn the US military on the American people. You and I know he talked about turning the American military on the American people. He has talked about going after people who are peacefully protesting. He has talked about locking people up for not agreeing with him. This is a democracy, and in a democracy, the president of the United States, in the United States, should be willing to make criticisms, without saying he’s going to lock people up for doing it.
- On whether Trump is fit to be president
“Over the last decade, the Republicans who have been on the stage with me, the president’s former chief of staff, Donald Trump, the former secretaries of defense, the national security adviser and his vice president, it’s certainly clear to me. He’s unfit to serve, he’s unstable, he’s dangerous, and he’s willing to demean himself, his personal People get tired of a leader who spends all his time dealing with grievances.
