Harris interview: VP roots for American middle class, dismisses Trump with 'next question please'

In her first interview after becoming the new Democratic Presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris said she would start implementing her “opportunity economy” plans on her first day in office. The proclamation from Harris came in the highly anticipated Harris-Walz interview on CNN.

At the start of the interview, CNN’s Dana Bash asked what Harris would do on her first day in the office. While responding to the question, the VP said that she would start implementing several of her policy proposals to “support and strengthen the middle class.” She noted that this includes her plan for an “opportunity economy”.

Harris emphasised that the American people “are ready for a new way forward” and to “turn the page” on the former president, Donald Trump. In the Thursday interview, Harris was sitting alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who noted that he is “excited” about Kamala Harris’s agenda for implementing an “opportunity economy”.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

Harris defends her policy shifts

When questioned about her past comments about banning fracking, Harris made it clear that she would not do that if she came to power. “No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020 that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking,” the vice president asserted.

While defending her policy shifts, Harris emphasised that her core values have not changed. “Let’s be clear – my values have not changed," she said. “I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time,” the Democratic presidential nominee furthered.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

During the interview, Harris acknowledged that “prices, in particular for groceries, are still too high” under the Biden administration. However, she stressed on the economic progress the country witnessed under the Biden administration.

“The economy had crashed – in large part all of that because of mismanagement by Donald Trump of that crisis. When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America,” Harris said, reiterating her proposal for the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries, as well as her plan to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homeowners.

Harris reacts to Trump’s racist attacks

When asked about her reaction to her Republican presidential rival’s recent attacks against her, the vice president insisted that Trump’s attack on her racial identity is part of the “same old tired playbook”.

Last month, during a panel hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Trump questioned whether Harris is “black or Indian”. “She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black," he said.

Meanwhile, Harris also hinted at appointing a Republican to her cabinet. “I think it’s really important. I have spent my career inviting a diversity of opinion. I think it’s important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences. And I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who was a Republican,” she said.

Walz defends his ‘military records’

During the joint interview, Harris’ VP pick Tim Walz was asked to clarify previous comments he and his campaign has made about his time serving in the Army National Guard. Walz noted that he is “incredibly proud” of the 24 years he served wearing the uniform of this country and that his record “speaks for itself”.

The former school teacher emphasised that he wears his “emotions on my sleeves”. “My record has been out there for over 40 years,” he added. The Minnesota governor expressed astonishment over how the Republicans are either attacking him for his children “for showing love” or it’s “an attack on my dog”.

Walz mentioned that he spoke about his and his wife’s infertility issues “because it’s hell, and families know this”. “I spoke about the treatments that were available to us … That’s quite a contrast in folks that are trying to take those rights away from us,” he said.

He also candidly recalled the moment his son, Gus, was seen tearing up and saying: “That’s my dad.” “You try to protect your kids, you know it brings notoriety and things but it was such a visceral emotional moment. I’m grateful I got to experience and I’m so proud of him,” he exclaimed.

Harris recalls the moment Biden passed the baton 

During the Thursday interview, the Vice President also recalled the moment she got the phone call from President Biden informing her of his decision to drop out of the race. “I’ll give you a little too much information,” Harris told CNN during her first sit-down interview Thursday since Biden dropped out.

“My family was staying with us, and including my baby nieces. And we had just had pancakes,” she went on. “We were sitting down to do a puzzle, and the phone rang, and it was Joe Biden and he told me what he had decided to do.” “‘I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ And he said, ‘Yes’," she added.

When asked if she has any regrets about previously telling people that Biden could serve “another four years”, Harris made it clear that she has none at all. She noted that serving with Biden has been “one of the greatest honours of my career”. “He has the intelligence, the commitment, judgment and disposition that I think the American people rightly deserve in their president. By contrast, the former president has none of that,” she furthered.

Bash eventually asked what it would mean for her if she became the first female President of the United States. While responding to the question, Harris recalled the photograph of her grand-niece watching her accepting the Democratic presidential nomination.

“You know, I — listen, I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender. But I did see that photograph. And I was deeply touched by it. And, you’re right, she’s — it’s the back of her head, and her two little braids, and — and then I’m in the front of the photograph obviously speaking. It’s very humbling. It’s very humbling in many ways,” she concluded.