By DAVID KNOWLES
WASHINGTON - Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first in-depth media interview since becoming the Democratic nominee for president, answering questions Thursday from CNN’s Dana Bash.
The pre-taped interview was conducted in Savannah, Ga., and Harris was joined by her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Earlier in the day, the resurgent Democratic ticket held a rally in the key swing state, while former President Donald Trump campaigned in Michigan.
With fewer than 70 days until the Nov. 5 election, every interview and campaign speech by the candidates will be scrutinized. Harris is scheduled to debate Trump on ABC News on Sept. 10.
Here are the key moments from the CNN interview.
A focus on the middle class on ‘day one’
Pressed by Bash on what she would do on “day one,” Harris focused on what she said was her agenda to bolster the middle class.
“Day one it’s going to be about, one, implementing my plan for what I call an opportunity economy,” Harris said. “I’ve already laid out a number of proposals in that regard, which includes what we’re going to do to bring down the cost of ordinary goods, what we’re going to do to invest in America’s small businesses, what we’re going to do to invest in families, for example, extending the child tax credit to $6,000 for families for the first year of their child’s life to help them buy a car seat, to help them buy baby clothes, a crib.”
Harris added that she would also begin pushing her plan to build more affordable housing across the country.
‘My values have not changed’
In one exchange, Bash asked Harris about policy changes on issues like her past support for the Green New Deal and for a ban on fracking since running in the Democratic primary for president in 2019.
"Dana, I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” Harris responded.
She went on to note her commitment to fighting climate change and to try to address the current wave of undocumented immigration.
“We have set goals for the United States of America — and by extension the globe — around when we should meet certain standards for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed,” Harris said. “My value around what we need to do to secure our border. That value has not changed.”
On Israel, Harris puts hope on ceasefire agreement
Bash asked Harris if she would consider withholding weapon shipments in an effort to influence Israel as it wages a retaliatory war against Hamas in Gaza that has killed 40,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
“Let me be very clear. I am unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself, and that’s not going to change,” Harris said.
At the same time, Harris took issue with the number of civilian Palestinians that have been killed in Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
“Israel has a right to defend itself, and we would. But how it does so matters,” Harris said.
As for whether she would change U.S. policy if elected president, Harris kept focus on the need for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“We have got to get a deal done. This war must end,” she said, adding that she ultimately supports a two-state solution.
Going on the attack on securing the border
Echoing her stump speech, Harris sought to flip the script on the surge of undocumented immigration that occurred under the Biden administration by blaming Trump for torpedoing a bipartisan Senate compromise to beef up border security and overhaul the asylum process.
“Donald Trump got word of this bill that contributed to securing our border and because he believes that it would not have helped him politically, he told his folks in Congress, ‘Don’t vote for it,’” Harris said. “He killed the bill, a border security bill that would have put 1,500 more agents on the border, and let me tell you, the border patrol endorsed the bill.”
“He killed the bill,” Harris said of Trump, adding, “I will make sure that it comes to my desk and I will sign it.”
Pressed by Bash on whether she still supported the idea that the border should be “decriminalized,” as she indicated by raising her hand during a 2019 debate, Harris offered a different view on Thursday.
“I believe there should be consequence. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally, and there should be consequence,” Harris said.
Pledge to appoint a Republican to cabinet position
Harris said that if she is elected in November, she would prioritize picking at least one Republican cabinet member in her administration.
“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,” she said. “And I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who was a Republican.”
Walz responds to claims he misrepresented his military service
In 2018, when Walz was campaigning for governor, he told an audience that he had “carried a weapon of war in a war.” But Walz, who served in the National Guard for 24 years, never did so in a combat zone, the New York Times reported. Walz was stationed with his unit in Italy in a support role, but has been criticized when he has claimed that he served overseas “in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.” Republicans, including Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance, have accused Walz of “stolen valor,” a term that describes those who improperly claim military service for personal or professional gain.
Bash asked Walz specifically about the “carried a weapon of war” comment.
“The idea that you said you were ‘in war,’” Bash asked Walz. “Did you misspeak as the campaign has said?”
“We were talking about, in this case this was after a school shooting, the idea of carrying these weapons of war. And my wife, the English teacher, she told me that my grammar is not always correct,” Walz answered. “But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children showing love for me or it’s an attack on my dog. I’m not going to do that. And the one thing that I’ll never do is I’ll never demean another’s service in any way. I never have and I never will.”
Not taking Trump’s bait
Bash asked Harris to respond to the incendiary comments Trump made earlier this month during an appearance at the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). During a contentious interview, Trump said that Harris had purposefully misrepresented her ethnic background and only recently “became a Black person.”
But Harris made clear that she wanted no part of what she regarded as a “tired,” racially motivated attack.
“Same old, tired playbook,” she said. “Next question, please.”
“That’s it?” Bash asked.
“That’s it,” Harris responded.
