In a revealing one-on-one interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris confronted a range of pressing issues, from the complexities of the Middle East and Ukraine to contentious topics like gun ownership and immigration. This interview comes as Harris intensifies her media presence through various podcasts and television appearances, following critiques regarding her relatively sparse public engagements.
Former President Donald Trump, who was also invited to participate in 60 Minutes, opted to decline the invitation. With less than a month remaining before Election Day, the political landscape intensifies between Harris and her Republican challenger.
The interview aired on Monday night, coinciding with commemorative events held by both Harris and Trump marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel. When asked by reporter Bill Whitaker whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “strong ally” of the United States, Harris refrained from a definitive agreement, particularly in light of recent tensions between Washington and Jerusalem. She stated, “The work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles,” emphasizing the deeper alliance between the American and Israeli peoples.
In a particularly charged exchange, Harris faced scrutiny over her immigration record, which has been a focal point of Republican criticism. Whitaker pressed her on whether it was a “mistake” to relax border restrictions enacted during Trump’s presidency, given that the Biden-Harris administration reinstated some of those limitations three years after taking office. “It’s a longstanding problem. And solutions are at hand. From day one, literally, we have been offering solutions,” Harris responded, attributing the failure to advance a comprehensive border deal to Trump’s influence over Congressional Republicans.
When asked if it was a misstep to allow a surge in immigration, Harris asserted, “The policies we have proposed are about fixing a problem, not promoting a problem,” noting that her administration has “cut the flow of illegal immigration by half.”
On the topic of Ukraine, Harris stated unequivocally that she would not engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin without Ukraine being present. She criticized Trump’s approach, claiming, “He talks about how he can end it on day one. You know what that is? It’s about surrender.” She further remarked that, had Trump remained in office, “Putin would be in Kyiv right now.”
Harris also outlined her economic strategy, which she argues would add approximately $3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. She insisted that her plan would fortify the American economy, in contrast to Trump’s proposed policies. When pressed on funding these initiatives, she indicated that tax increases for “the richest among us who can afford it” would be part of the solution.
A recent analysis from the non-partisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget highlighted that Trump’s proposals could double the national debt increase compared to Harris’s plans, estimating Trump’s impact at $7.5 trillion versus Harris’s $3.5 trillion. The report cautioned that neither candidate is adequately addressing the alarming growth of the national debt, which currently stands at $35.6 trillion.
While Trump initially accepted the invitation to 60 Minutes, he later rescinded his decision, with his campaign labeling the interview invitation as “fake news.” This is reminiscent of his 2020 campaign when he abruptly ended an interview with CBS’s Leslie Stahl after expressing frustration over questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier on the same day, Vice President Harris honored those killed or taken hostage on October 7 by planting a pomegranate tree at the vice-presidential residence in Washington, D.C. She described it as “a symbol of hope and righteousness… to remind future vice-presidents of the United States not only of the horror of October 7th but the strength and endurance of the Jewish people.” Meanwhile, Trump visited the Ohel Chabad Lubavitch in Queens, New York, where he donned a black yarmulke. This site is revered as one of the holiest in North America by certain Orthodox Jewish communities.
