In a tense interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Kamala Harris vowed to differentiate her presidency from Joe Biden’s, as she aims to sway Republican voters in the upcoming election.
Harris sparred with host Bret Baier on issues ranging from immigration to gender transition surgery, often asking “may I finish” as Baier interrupted her responses.
During the half-hour interview, Harris addressed comments she made last week, which Republicans have seized on, stating she could not think of anything she would have done differently from Biden during his term.
However, she clarified her stance, saying, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.” She emphasised her vision for “fresh and new ideas,” declaring herself a representative of a “new generation of leadership.”
This interview marked Harris’ first appearance on Fox News, a network with deep ties to former President Donald Trump, and came less than three weeks before the election.
Harris campaign is in a tight race, and this appearance is seen as a strategic move to reach out to undecided voters.
She used the platform to sharply criticise Trump, accusing him of inciting division and referring to him as someone who “tends to demean and belittle and diminish the American people.”
In response, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise Baier for what he called a “tough but very fair interview,” adding that it “clearly showed how totally incompetent Kamala is.”
Baier questioned Harris about the record levels of illegal immigration under the Biden administration, despite recent declines.
Harris pointed to a bill proposed by the Biden-Harris administration to enhance border security, blaming Trump for obstructing it. “Donald Trump told Republicans to kill it,” she said.
Another topic of debate was gender-affirming surgery for prisoners and undocumented individuals. Harris, responding to conservative criticism, said, “I will follow the law — and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” referencing a recent New York Times report that noted such care was provided during Trump’s presidency as well.
When asked about Biden’s mental acuity and whether she noticed any decline before he withdrew from the race, Harris deflected, stating, “Bret, Joe Biden is not on the ballot. And Donald Trump is.”
Trump, meanwhile, addressed questions from Hispanic voters in Miami on Univision, where he repeated claims about migrants entering the country from foreign prisons and mental institutions.
He also called January 6, 2021 when his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol, a “day of love” and expressed skepticism about climate change.
Harris is scheduled to continue her campaign in Wisconsin, while Trump will be featured on a new podcast interview set to air Thursday.
