VP Kamala Harris Gives First Interview As Nominee

I will tell you first and foremost one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class.

VP Kamala Harris on what she would do Day 1 in the office that she seeks as a nominee: the U.S. presidency.

Why It Matters: VP Harris engaged in her first interview as a presidential nominee – the conversation covered several important topics from the economy to border security to foreign policy. The taped interview aired on CNN with the network’s lead political correspondent, Dana Bash, conducting the interview. VP Harris touted being part of the Biden administration and bringing down inflation, reducing the cost of medication, “bringing manufacturing to the United States” and improving the supply chain. On the economy she said, “There’s more to do, but that’s good work.”

VP Harris also spoke on the border:

“BASH: Just one other question about something that you said in 2019 when you first ran. There was a debate. You raised your hand when asked whether or not the border should be decriminalized. Do you still believe that?

HARRIS: 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. And let’s be clear, in this race, I’m the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations who traffic in guns, drugs, and human beings. I’m the only person in this race who actually served a border state as attorney general to enforce our laws. And I would enforce our laws as president going forward. I recognize the problem.

BASH: Generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made — that you explained some of here — in your policy? Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you’re running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is gonna be your policy moving forward?

HARRIS: Dana, I think the — the — the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.

We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act. We have set goals for the United States of America and by extension the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed. My value around what we need to do to secure our border, that value has not changed. I spent two terms as the attorney general of California prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, violations of American laws regarding the passage, illegal passage of guns, drugs, and human beings across our border. My values did not change.

So that is the reality of it, and four years of being vice president, I’ll tell you, one of the — the — the aspects to your point is traveling the country extensively. I mean, I’m here in Georgia, I think somebody told me 17 times since I’ve been vice president in Georgia alone. I believe it is important to build consensus, and it is important to — to — to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems.”

Read More: READ: Harris and Walz’s exclusive joint interview with CNN (CNN, full transcript)

Fact-checking Harris’ CNN interview (CNN)

First Part Of Interview

Second Part Of Interview