WASHINGTON — In a fiery interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris confronted challenges regarding immigration policy and her evolving stance on various issues, while asserting that her presidency would differ significantly from that of Joe Biden, should she be elected. This marked Harris’ debut on the network, aimed at expanding her appeal to voters leaning toward the Republican side just weeks ahead of the upcoming election.
The nearly 30-minute dialogue with Bret Baier became increasingly contentious, featuring moments where both spoke over one another. Baier pressed Harris on the topic of immigration, including her shifting viewpoints since her initial presidential campaign in 2020. When Baier continued to speak while she attempted to answer his questions, Harris pleaded for him to let her finish: “May I please finish? You have to let me finish, please.”
Throughout the interview, Harris attempted to steer the conversation toward criticizing Donald Trump but also spoke directly to her own policies and beliefs. After previously stating she could not identify any decisions made by Biden that she would have approached differently, she emphasized, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.” While she refrained from detailing her plans, she asserted, “Like every new president that comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, and my professional experiences and fresh and new ideas.”
When asked about her remark about wanting to “turn the page,” despite the Democrats currently controlling the White House, Harris explained that she is focused on moving past “the last decade in which we have been burdened with the kind of rhetoric coming from Donald Trump.”
On immigration matters, she expressed sorrow over the fatalities of women who were victims of individuals released after illegally crossing the U.S. border during the Biden administration. Nonetheless, she criticized Trump for obstructing bipartisan immigration legislation earlier this year that aimed to increase border funding. After Baier showed a video of a grieving mother blaming the Biden-Harris administration for her daughter’s death, Harris extended her condolences, saying, “I am so sorry for her loss, sincerely.”
In a notable shift, Harris indicated that she no longer agrees with the decriminalization of illegal border crossings, a position she held in 2019. She stated, “That was five years ago and I am very clear that I will follow the law.” She responded similarly regarding proposals for granting driver’s licenses and subsidized healthcare to undocumented immigrants.
Addressing Trump, she remarked, “People are exhausted with someone who professes to be a leader and who spends full time demeaning and engaging in personal grievances,” describing him as “not stable.” Harris also urged Fox viewers to consider Trump’s rhetoric about “the enemy within” and his threats against political opponents.
Baier took the opportunity to challenge her comments about Biden’s mental acuity, particularly after his contentious debate with Trump in June, which led to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race. Although she continued to defend Biden, she reiterated, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot and Donald Trump is.”
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, criticized Harris for appearing “angry, defensive” and for not taking responsibility for current issues facing Americans. She remarked that if Harris struggles under the pressure of a Fox News interview, she would likely falter in the role of president.
At various points during the interview, Harris pushed back against Baier’s questioning, urging, “I would like if we could have a conversation that is grounded in a full assessment of the facts.”