For the first time since she emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination over three weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris officially addressed reporters on Thursday.
Prior to former President Donald Trump’s lengthy news conference at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, and following a campaign stop in Michigan, Harris spoke with the media as soon as she disembarked from the aircraft at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Fox News stated that Harris addressed concerns that she hadn’t conducted an official press conference or in-depth interview since she was announced as the front-runner.
“I’ve talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month,” Harris said.
The vice president also discussed the agreement she and Trump reached to have at least one presidential debate before November 5.
“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10,” she said, adding she would be willing to schedule additional debates with the former president.
Trump said on Thursday that he will participate in three debates on Fox News Channel, NBC, and ABC the following month.
The ABC debate was scheduled to feature Vice President Biden and Trump; but, about three weeks ago, Harris assumed the role of Democratic presidential nominee.
“I am beyond trying to speculate about how he thinks,” Harris said when asked about Trump backing out of the debate.
Republicans who had doubts about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s military service were also addressed by Harris after she selected him as her running mate on Tuesday.
“Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country,” she said. “And I think that we all should.”
The incident began when Republicans said Walz was hiding his service credentials with “stolen valor garbage.”
After he emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Trump had recently chastised the vice president for refusing to respond to inquiries from media during the campaign. Harris made a stop at the tarmac at this point.
“Kamala refuses to do interviews because her team realizes she is unable to answer questions, much like Biden was not able to answer questions, but for different reasons,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The incident began when Republicans said Walz was hiding his service credentials with “stolen valor garbage.”
After he emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Trump had recently chastised the vice president for refusing to respond to inquiries from media during the campaign. Harris made a stop at the tarmac at this point.
Republicans are ecstatic about Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former congressman from the United States who shifted from being a moderate to a far-left “progressive” with a record they think they can use to their advantage in November.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made a reference to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a self-described democratic socialist, on X after her announcement on Tuesday, saying, “Harris Feels the Bern and picks Walz.” I’m grateful, Kamala! For the far Left, Governor Tim Walz is the ideal candidate.
Majority Whip of the House The highest-ranking House member from Walz’s home state, Tom Emmer, R-Minn., has accused him of implementing policies that would turn Minnesota into a blue state similar to California.
“It’s not surprising [Harris] picked Tim Walz to be her running mate – he embodies the same disastrous economic, open-borders, and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years,” Emmer wrote on X. “Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris’ home state of California, and solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”
“They’ve taken a knee to these radical extremists that are antisemites and anti-Israel,” Emmer added, calling Walz a “grab bag of nothing.”
Several Republicans have cited Walz’s handling of the Black Lives Matter riots in Minnesota in the summer of 2020 as a sneak peek at the GOP’s planned approach for the upcoming months. Additionally, they emphasized that during her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris backed the Minnesota Freedom money, which acts as a bail money for rioters, as reported by Fox News.
“The Democrat Party makes history as they anoint Harris-Walz to the ballot this November representing the most radical Far Left wing ticket in history,” said House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. “Walz was a failed Member of Congress, is a failed Governor who supported Defund the Police BLM that torched cities to the ground. All while Kamala fundraised to bail out violent criminals from prison.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., of the neighboring state of Wisconsin wrote in a statement, “While Minnesota burned, Tim Walz did nothing and watched. While Minnesota burned, Kamala Harris helped violent rioters get out of jail. This is the SOCIALIST dream.”
Walz came under heavy fire for delaying the call-up of his state’s National Guard to quell the looting and rioting, which included setting fire to a Minneapolis police precinct.
“Tim Walz is a perfect choice for Kamala Harris. He let BLM rioters, arsonists, and looters rampage through his state and she encouraged donations to the bail fund for the few who were arrested,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said.
“Weak choice. Really surprising,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is running for Senate, told Axios. “Lot there for Republicans to seize on to show the radical differences.”
“Harris’ ideological comfort zone remains at the very far left fringes of her party; by snubbing Pro-Israel [Pa. Gov. Josh] Shapiro [D] it’s the clearest sign yet that 2024 Kamala is the same as the 2019 primary Kamala,” NRCC spokesperson Will Reinert told the outlet.
“It was Harris’ first major decision as the nominee and she caved to the pro-Hamas contingency within the Democratic Party,” NRSC spokesperson Mike Berg said. “Tim Walz reinforces Kamala Harris’ biggest weaknesses: crime and immigration.”
