Vice President Kamala Harris sat with CBS’ “60 Minutes” for a wide-ranging prime-time interview that aired on Monday evening. Harris mentioned her plans to enhance the nation if elected president, her private views, and Donald Trump’s precedent-breaking choice to keep away from the interview alternative.
“60 Minutes” has been a mainstay of tv information for over 55 years and has been the highest-rated newsmagazine present for the final 50 of these years. The present additionally has hundreds of thousands who eat its content material by way of TikTok and YouTube, so an look by a candidate there could make an impression with a large swath of the citizens—particularly this near an election.
In her interview with correspondent Invoice Whitaker, Harris famous that whereas the financial system has improved considerably since she and President Joe Biden took workplace in 2021, she intends to do extra to handle middle-class households if she is elected.
“Prices are still too high, and I know that, and we need to deal with it,” Harris stated. “Part of my plan is what we must do to bring down the price of groceries.” Harris has proposed a ban on worth gouging, which might forestall corporations from making exorbitant income on wanted gadgets like meals and medication.
Harris famous that her financial plan—together with little one tax credit, assist for small companies, and credit score for first-time homebuyers—is focused on the center class, in distinction to Trump’s desire for reducing taxes for giant companies and billionaires.
“One of the things that I’m going to make sure is that the richest among us, who can afford it, pay their fair share in taxes,” Harris informed Whitaker after he requested how she would pay for her proposals.
Addressing immigration, Harris reiterated her earlier statements calling on Congress to cross a border safety and reform invoice (which Trump opposed). She famous that points on the border are a “longstanding problem” and that the Biden administration has tried to handle the difficulty, however that it wants congressional motion.
The candidate additionally informed CBS that she owns a Glock gun and has fired it at a taking pictures vary. Harris has emphasised that she helps the Second Modification, and that accountable gun possession is paramount to public security, citing her expertise as a prosecutor in San Francisco.
Requested about Trump’s repeated racism, comparable to falsely claiming Haitian migrants are consuming pets, Harris stated, “I believe that the people of America want a leader who’s not trying to divide us and demean. The true measure of the strength of a leader is not based on who you beat down, it’s based on who you lift up.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ operating mate, additionally appeared on this system. Whitaker requested Walz to reply to Republican assaults alleging that Minnesota is out of step with the nation underneath his management. Walz defined that he has championed points like offering free breakfast and lunch to high school kids and paid household and medical depart. He added, “Trump spends his time tearing down states rather than lifting up the best of what we do.”
Each Trump and operating mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance weren’t on this system. “60 Minutes” host Scott Pelley informed viewers that the Trump staff’s absence was unprecedented within the 50-year historical past of this system interviewing the main get together presidential candidates.
Pelley stated the Trump staff first agreed to do an interview, however then canceled, citing the community’s plans to reality examine, which he reiterated the information program does for each story. Trump additionally stated CBS wanted to apologize for the 2020 interview that he lower brief after getting upset on the questions he was requested by Leslie Stahl.
Trump’s refusal of CBS’ invitation echoes his choice to refuse partaking in a second debate with Harris. After their Sept. 10 debate, Harris was the consensus winner of the alternate throughout a number of polls. Since then, Trump has claimed victory and Democrats launched an advert marketing campaign labeling him a “chicken.”
In her interview, Harris was requested about Trump’s uncommon choice concerning “60 Minutes.”
“If he is not going to give your viewers the ability to have a meaningful, thoughtful conversation, question and answer with you, then watch his rallies,” Harris stated. “You’re going to hear conversations that are about himself and all of his personal grievances. And what you will not hear is anything about you, the listener.”
