Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a contentious discussion with Fox News anchor Bret Baier during her inaugural formal interview with the network. Baier challenged Harris on several topics, including immigration policy and her past positions from her 2019 presidential campaign. During the 30-minute interview, Baier inquired about what Harris would do differently from President Joe Biden. Harris emphasized that her presidency would not be a continuation of Biden’s, asserting that she would bring her unique experiences and ideas to the role, representing a new generation of leadership.
Harris appeared on the pro-Trump network aiming to connect with moderate Republicans. Earlier in the day, she attended an event with over 100 Republicans, including some former Trump administration officials who have endorsed her. Throughout the interview, Harris highlighted these endorsements and referred to former President Donald Trump’s recent comments labeling Democrats as “the enemy within”—remarks he has previously suggested could warrant military intervention.
In a town hall with women voters aired on Fox News, Trump reiterated his statements, labeling his opponents as dangerous and radical. Baier presented a different segment of Trump’s response, where Trump claimed he was not making threats, but rather addressing threats against him. Harris responded emphatically, arguing that Trump’s rhetoric involved suggestions of using the military against Americans and targeting peaceful protestors.
The Trump campaign characterized the interview as a “train wreck,” describing Harris as angry and defensive, while attributing current American challenges to her lack of accountability. In contrast, Harris’s campaign viewed the interview as successful, believing it allowed her to connect with an audience that had not been previously exposed to her arguments. Campaign aide Brian Fallon praised Harris for her resilience against a challenging interviewer.
On immigration, Harris expressed understanding for parents of victims killed by undocumented immigrants, but resisted accepting blame, instead referencing a bipartisan border security agreement that failed due to Trump’s influence. Regarding federal funding for gender transition surgeries for transgender prisoners or detained migrants, an issue Trump has highlighted in his advertising, Harris stated she would adhere to federal law and noted that the Trump administration had followed the same regulations. She criticized Trump’s campaign spending on such advertisements, suggesting it was an attempt to instill fear among voters, while lacking concrete plans to address the needs of Americans.
