Kamala Harris ’s first appearance on Fox News in an exclusive interview with Bret Baier proved to be a challenging affair, as the Vice President found herself navigating difficult questions, especially around President Biden’s mental acuity, her stance on immigration, and how her presidency would differ from Biden's. The interview, which marked Harris’s most high-profile appearance on a platform not typically favourable to her, highlighted the issues she struggled to address and underscored the tension between the Biden-Harris administration and more conservative media outlets.
Stumble 1: Biden’s Mental Decline
One of the most contentious points of the interview came when Baier directly asked Harris about President Biden’s mental faculties. Baier quoted past interviews in which Harris had defended Biden’s competence, noting that she had previously stated he was “on his game” and able to “run circles around his staff.” He pressed her on when she first noticed any signs of mental decline in the President.
Harris appeared caught off guard by the question, pausing before reiterating her support for Biden’s capabilities. She insisted that Biden had the judgment and experience needed for the role, citing her observations of him making important decisions in the Oval Office and Situation Room. However, when Baier followed up by asking if there had been no concerns raised about Biden’s mental acuity, Harris deflected, responding, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot… and Donald Trump is.”
The Vice President struggled to move the conversation away from Biden’s health, despite Baier’s continued questioning. He referenced actor George Clooney ’s comments in a *New York Times* op-ed, in which Clooney mentioned that Biden did not seem like the same person he once knew. Baier pointed out that Harris had met with Biden frequently over the past three and a half years and pressed her again on whether she had ever had concerns. Harris, once more, shifted the conversation back to Donald Trump, stating that concerns about Trump’s fitness for office were more pressing than those about Biden. She emphasised that several prominent figures, including Trump’s former vice president, had spoken out against his ability to lead.
Stumble 2: Immigration and Border Policy
Another area where Harris faced significant difficulty was immigration, particularly her handling of border issues as Vice President. Baier repeatedly questioned her about the administration’s failure to address the broken immigration system. Harris acknowledged that the system needed repair but struggled to articulate why no progress had been made, despite Democratic control of Congress in the early years of the Biden administration. She blamed the collapse of bipartisan efforts on Donald Trump, claiming that his actions had undermined any potential for reform.
When asked about her 2019 stance that border crossings should be legalised, Harris shifted her position, now asserting that she did not support decriminalising border crossings. However, she provided little explanation for this change, which was a stark contrast to her previous campaign rhetoric. Baier also questioned her about crimes committed by illegal immigrants, such as the murder of Laken Riley, which had gripped national attention. Harris responded by calling these cases tragic and expressed sympathy for the families involved but did not elaborate on how the administration would address such issues.
Stumble 3: How Harris’s Presidency Would Differ from Biden’s
Baier then turned to how Harris’s presidency would differ from Biden’s, especially in light of previous interviews where she had been unable to point to any policy differences. Harris had recently struggled on *The View* to name anything she would have done differently, and during her interview with Stephen Colbert , she had dodged the same question.
In her Fox News interview, Harris attempted to distance herself from Biden, stating that her presidency would not be a continuation of his. She argued that, like any new president, she would bring her own life and professional experiences to the role. Harris emphasised that she represented a “new generation of leadership” and highlighted the fact that she had not spent most of her career in Washington, contrasting this with Biden’s decades-long political career.
Baier pressed her on this point, questioning what she was “turning the page” from, given that she had been part of the administration for the past three and a half years. Harris responded by saying that she wanted to move away from the divisive rhetoric of Donald Trump, which she claimed had caused Americans to turn on one another. She argued that Trump’s leadership was based on belittling and diminishing others, rather than lifting them up, and that this approach had exhausted the American people.
Baier attempted to refocus the conversation on the administration’s track record, pointing out that 79% of Americans believed the country was on the wrong track. He pushed Harris to explain how, after three and a half years in office, she planned to address these concerns. However, Harris again shifted the discussion back to Trump, deflecting from the direct question about her role in the current administration’s challenges.
The Interview’s Reception
The interview, described as confrontational, saw Harris repeatedly dodging difficult questions, often pivoting back to criticisms of Trump rather than addressing the topics directly. This tactic, while allowing her to project defiance towards both Fox News and her political opponents, was met with mixed reactions. Critics argued that her inability to answer key questions, particularly about Biden’s mental decline and immigration, reflected poorly on her candidacy. Trump’s campaign quickly seized on the interview, with national press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a “train wreck” and claiming that Harris “couldn’t give a straight answer to a single question.”
Despite the criticisms, Harris’s appearance on Fox News marked a significant moment in her campaign. It was her first major interview on a network known for its scepticism towards her, and it allowed her to reach a broader audience, including independent voters. Nielsen research has shown that more independents watch Fox News than CNN or MSNBC, making the interview a strategic move to engage with those who may not be in her typical base.
Stumble 1: Biden’s Mental Decline
One of the most contentious points of the interview came when Baier directly asked Harris about President Biden’s mental faculties. Baier quoted past interviews in which Harris had defended Biden’s competence, noting that she had previously stated he was “on his game” and able to “run circles around his staff.” He pressed her on when she first noticed any signs of mental decline in the President.
"When did you first notice that Joe Biden’s mental faculties appeared diminished?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 16, 2024
HARRIS: *awkward pause* pic.twitter.com/I5TWVqZ42g
Harris appeared caught off guard by the question, pausing before reiterating her support for Biden’s capabilities. She insisted that Biden had the judgment and experience needed for the role, citing her observations of him making important decisions in the Oval Office and Situation Room. However, when Baier followed up by asking if there had been no concerns raised about Biden’s mental acuity, Harris deflected, responding, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot… and Donald Trump is.”
The Vice President struggled to move the conversation away from Biden’s health, despite Baier’s continued questioning. He referenced actor George Clooney ’s comments in a *New York Times* op-ed, in which Clooney mentioned that Biden did not seem like the same person he once knew. Baier pointed out that Harris had met with Biden frequently over the past three and a half years and pressed her again on whether she had ever had concerns. Harris, once more, shifted the conversation back to Donald Trump, stating that concerns about Trump’s fitness for office were more pressing than those about Biden. She emphasised that several prominent figures, including Trump’s former vice president, had spoken out against his ability to lead.
Stumble 2: Immigration and Border Policy
Another area where Harris faced significant difficulty was immigration, particularly her handling of border issues as Vice President. Baier repeatedly questioned her about the administration’s failure to address the broken immigration system. Harris acknowledged that the system needed repair but struggled to articulate why no progress had been made, despite Democratic control of Congress in the early years of the Biden administration. She blamed the collapse of bipartisan efforts on Donald Trump, claiming that his actions had undermined any potential for reform.
When asked about her 2019 stance that border crossings should be legalised, Harris shifted her position, now asserting that she did not support decriminalising border crossings. However, she provided little explanation for this change, which was a stark contrast to her previous campaign rhetoric. Baier also questioned her about crimes committed by illegal immigrants, such as the murder of Laken Riley, which had gripped national attention. Harris responded by calling these cases tragic and expressed sympathy for the families involved but did not elaborate on how the administration would address such issues.
Stumble 3: How Harris’s Presidency Would Differ from Biden’s
Baier then turned to how Harris’s presidency would differ from Biden’s, especially in light of previous interviews where she had been unable to point to any policy differences. Harris had recently struggled on *The View* to name anything she would have done differently, and during her interview with Stephen Colbert , she had dodged the same question.
In her Fox News interview, Harris attempted to distance herself from Biden, stating that her presidency would not be a continuation of his. She argued that, like any new president, she would bring her own life and professional experiences to the role. Harris emphasised that she represented a “new generation of leadership” and highlighted the fact that she had not spent most of her career in Washington, contrasting this with Biden’s decades-long political career.
after implying that her would-be administration wouldn't be much of a departure from Biden's the past couple of weeks, Harris finally differentiates herself on Fox News pic.twitter.com/kTMlwkZPsv
— manny (@mannyfidel) October 16, 2024
Baier pressed her on this point, questioning what she was “turning the page” from, given that she had been part of the administration for the past three and a half years. Harris responded by saying that she wanted to move away from the divisive rhetoric of Donald Trump, which she claimed had caused Americans to turn on one another. She argued that Trump’s leadership was based on belittling and diminishing others, rather than lifting them up, and that this approach had exhausted the American people.
Baier attempted to refocus the conversation on the administration’s track record, pointing out that 79% of Americans believed the country was on the wrong track. He pushed Harris to explain how, after three and a half years in office, she planned to address these concerns. However, Harris again shifted the discussion back to Trump, deflecting from the direct question about her role in the current administration’s challenges.
The Interview’s Reception
The interview, described as confrontational, saw Harris repeatedly dodging difficult questions, often pivoting back to criticisms of Trump rather than addressing the topics directly. This tactic, while allowing her to project defiance towards both Fox News and her political opponents, was met with mixed reactions. Critics argued that her inability to answer key questions, particularly about Biden’s mental decline and immigration, reflected poorly on her candidacy. Trump’s campaign quickly seized on the interview, with national press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a “train wreck” and claiming that Harris “couldn’t give a straight answer to a single question.”
Despite the criticisms, Harris’s appearance on Fox News marked a significant moment in her campaign. It was her first major interview on a network known for its scepticism towards her, and it allowed her to reach a broader audience, including independent voters. Nielsen research has shown that more independents watch Fox News than CNN or MSNBC, making the interview a strategic move to engage with those who may not be in her typical base.
You may also like
Tren de Aragua: Trump puts "baby-faced" gangbangers in cross hairs
Ruben Amorim responds after being asked if he's following sporting director to Man City
Shoppers rave over 'classy' Roman velvet dress that's perfect for party season
Kyran Durnin mystery deepens as police fear missing boy may have been dead for two years
Dominik Szoboszlai receives huge off-field boost and Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch responds
