Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a contentious interview with Fox News host Bret Baier on Wednesday, aiming to address voter concerns as the campaign heats up ahead of the November 5 election. The discussion quickly turned to immigration, a critical issue for both parties.
Baier confronted Harris with a Trump campaign advertisement that featured a grieving mother testifying about her child's death, allegedly caused by undocumented immigrants. In response, Harris emphasized that immigration challenges existed long before her vice presidency began in 2021, noting that these issues were prevalent during Trump's administration as well.
“That ad from the Trump campaign is a little bit of throwing stones when you’re living in a glass house,” she remarked. “You’ve got to take responsibility for what happened in your administration.”
A recent Pew Research Center poll highlighted that while the economy remains the top concern for voters, immigration also ranks high, with 41 percent considering it “extremely important.” Trump currently holds an advantage on immigration, with 54 percent of respondents believing he is best equipped to handle the issue.
As the presidential race approaches its climax, Harris's campaign is focusing on attracting moderate voters, including Republicans dissatisfied with Trump's leadership. She has received endorsements from prominent Republicans, such as former Vice President Dick Cheney, and has promised to include a Republican in her cabinet if elected.
During her rally in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Harris highlighted her bipartisan support, stating, “I am joined today by over 100 Republican leaders from across Pennsylvania and across our country who are supporting my candidacy for president of the United States.”
However, the atmosphere in the Fox News studio was notably tense. Baier opened with a direct question about the number of undocumented immigrants released into the country under Harris's watch. The Biden administration has faced criticism for a surge in irregular border crossings, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting a record number of encounters at the border during the 2023 fiscal year.
Harris acknowledged the broken immigration system but attributed its issues to political maneuvering. “We have a broken immigration system that needs to be repaired,” she asserted, while pointing fingers at Trump for blocking a bipartisan immigration bill that could have provided comprehensive reform.
Baier pressed further, linking the administration's immigration policy to violent crimes, citing recent tragic cases involving young women. Harris expressed her condolences but maintained that comprehensive reforms could have made a difference.
The interview also featured a discussion on Harris's alignment with Biden’s administration. Baier referenced her prior statement on The View, where she claimed no significant differences with Biden's policies. Harris responded emphatically, asserting, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.”
As a seasoned prosecutor with experience as California’s attorney general, Harris positioned herself as a leader ready to bring fresh ideas and engage with diverse voices in governance.
The interview concluded amid scrutiny of Baier’s questioning style, with former Harris aide Symone Sanders Townsend criticizing his approach as rude and misleading, suggesting he echoed Trump’s narrative.
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