Vice President Kamala Harris, during an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, discussed her belief that Americans desire a president with a plan considered “sound and will strengthen our country.” Harris emphasized that her economic strategy surpasses former President Donald Trump’s, despite public trust in his economic record.
In her first exclusive interview with Fox News as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris outlined her approach, stating that her plan focuses on bolstering small businesses, which she described as the backbone of America’s economy, as well as providing support for young parents. Harris noted that her economic proposals have been reviewed by 16 Nobel laureates, Goldman Sachs, Moody’s, and The Wall Street Journal, which have suggested that her plans would strengthen the economy. She contrasted this with Trump’s proposals, which she claimed would weaken the economy, lead to increased inflation, and potentially cause a recession by the middle of the following year.
According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan organization, Harris’ plan could add approximately $1.2 trillion to the national deficit, reducing GDP by about 1.3% over the next decade. By 2054, it forecasts a 3% decline in economic growth due to her proposed tax and spending plan. In contrast, the analysis predicts that Trump’s plan might increase the national deficit by $4.1 trillion over the next decade. While initially boosting GDP, Trump’s plan could negatively impact economic growth over time, leading to a decrease of 0.4% in GDP by 2034 and 2.1% by 2054.
A poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos found Harris leading Trump nationally by a margin of 45% to 42%, which falls within the poll’s margin of error. However, on economic issues, Trump holds 45% support compared to Harris’ 40%. Harris expressed that her economic strategy represents a new path forward, moving beyond the divisiveness associated with Trump’s rhetoric. She posits that her approach will strengthen the nation, while Trump’s plan involves tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations, potentially increasing the deficit.
When questioned about the trust voters place in Trump regarding economic matters, Harris acknowledged the competitive nature of the presidential race. Following Harris’ interview, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the discussion, labeling it as a “train wreck” and accusing Harris of evasiveness due to a lack of answers. Leavitt claimed that Harris’ campaign is built on falsehoods about Trump and questioned her ability to handle presidential responsibilities.
The report was contributed to by FOX Business’ Megan Henney and Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom.
