By Nicholas Nehamas and Katie Rogers
Earlier this week, Vice President Kamala Harris took part in the most confrontational interview of her campaign, clashing with Fox News anchor Bret Baier about the U.S. border, President Joe Biden’s cognitive health, and whether former President Donald Trump is a danger to American democracy.
As a Democratic presidential hopeful, making an appearance on Fox News is akin to stepping into the lion’s den. This time, Baier played the role of the lion, continuously interrupting Harris and attempting to overshadow her responses.
Nevertheless, Harris — marking her first interview on Fox News in an effort to connect with millions of voters, particularly conservative women who may not be familiar with her platform — mostly directed the dialogue towards her preferred topics.
Here are five key takeaways from the interview.
She distanced herself from Biden (to some extent).
Harris made a significant attempt to distinguish herself from Biden after being asked how her administration would differ.
“My presidency will not simply continue Joe Biden’s presidency,” she stated, adding that she embodies a new generation of leadership and would tackle concerns like housing and small businesses from different perspectives.
Republicans have viewed Harris’ hesitance to define her differences from the unpopular president as a political advantage. During an appearance on ABC’s “The View” last week, she remarked that there was “nothing that comes to mind” when questioned about what she would have altered compared to Biden.
Harris has engaged in a delicate balancing act with her superior, trying to honor their administration’s successes while asserting her own identity. Her response on Wednesday was more rhetorical than practical, though Biden may have prompted her to be bolder going forward.
“Every president must forge their own path. That’s what I did,” he mentioned in a speech on Tuesday. “I was loyal to Barack Obama, but I carved my own trail as president. That’s what Kamala will do. She’s been loyal up to now, but she’ll create her own path.”
When Baier cleverly inquired about when she first noticed “President Biden’s mental faculties appearing diminished,” she stood her ground, asserting that Biden was fully capable of leading the country — in stark contrast to Trump, whom she labeled as “unfit,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.”
A determined Bret Baier pushed right-wing narratives.
Right from the start, Baier appeared resolved to disrupt Harris’s narrative — often mirroring those of Trump.
It took him less than 20 seconds to cut her off initially. Harris, recognized for her adeptness at filibustering, had barely begun responding to his opening inquiry. This pattern persisted throughout much of the interview.
Many of Baier’s queries seemed to echo Trump’s claims. The Fox News anchor referenced young women whom Trump frequently highlights at his rallies as victims of unauthorized immigrants and are regularly mentioned in Fox programming. In fact, nearly half of the 26-minute discussion centered around immigration and border security, topics identified as Harris’ notable weaknesses among undecided voters. Baier also insinuated that she was lenient towards Iran.
For Harris, the interview was primarily aimed at appealing to women …
The conversation with Baier allowed Harris to reach a significant audience of Republican women whom her campaign is eager to attract. Her team believes there is a segment of conservative women who might resonate with the character distinction she seeks to establish with Trump — or who are at least open to hearing her perspective.
Officials from Harris’s campaign are convinced that discussing the current landscape of abortion restrictions in the United States is a winning tactic with female voters, especially those who are liberal or leaning liberal. However, Baier did not raise this issue, and the vice president did not steer the discussion there.
Instead, both remained concentrated on immigration and border security — a subject that, according to recent surveys, ranks high on the list of concerns for female voters.
… and those women witnessed the vice president being interrupted consistently.
During this segment and others, the viewers Harris and her campaign are targeting also observed Baier repeatedly cut her off as she attempted to address his inquiries.
“We’re speaking over each other,” he remarked just before the interview concluded, despite having done so himself for most of their exchange. “I apologize.”
The interview highlighted the challenges of Harris’ outreach to Republicans.
Harris frequently presented viewpoints that Fox News viewers typically do not encounter in their usual broadcasts, declaring Trump unfit for office and highlighting the number of former officials from his administration who support her campaign.
Nevertheless, the interview served as a reminder that, even while she discusses in speeches the importance of fostering cross-party dialogue — and campaigns alongside Republicans like former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — the overwhelming majority of the Republican Party and its media outlets regard her with skepticism bordering on disdain and remain firmly committed to their chosen candidate.
