WASHINGTON — Vice-Chairman Kamala Harriswho presents herself as the candidate of change as she runs for president against the Republicans Donald Trumpsaid Friday that she is different from the president Joe Biden because it offers “a new generation of leadership.”
In her first solo television interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris also criticized the “hate and division that we see from Donald Trump” and said she thinks people are “tired” of his leadership style.
She also said She is a gun owner and does not want to take away anyone’s guns, but believes a ban on assault rifles is necessary and consistent with the Second Amendment.
Host Brian Taff of WPVI-TV in Philadelphia asked Harris to describe one or two areas where she differs from the president.
“Well, I’m clearly not Joe Biden” and “I’m providing a new generation of leadership,” Harris said, adding that things once taken for granted can no longer be overlooked.
“Another plan I have is a new approach, expand the child tax deduction to $6,000 for young families for the first year of their child’s life, because that is clearly a very critical period in the development of the child, and so my approach is about new ideas, new policies that are focused on the present moment,” she said. “And to be very honest with you, my focus is very much on what we need to do in the next 10, 20 years to catch up to the 21st century, again, in terms of capacity but also challenges.”
The interview was held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where Harris was campaigning on Friday.
Trump, his running mate Senator JD Vance and other Republicans have criticized Harris for largely avoiding media interviews or communicating on the record with reporters covering her campaign events. She and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, gave a joint interview with CNN last month. Her campaign recently said she will do more local interviews, and the National Association of Black Journalists announced Friday that several of its members will interview Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Harris used a question about the former president’s appeal and how she would speak to his supporters to criticize Trump and his leadership style.
“I also think I’m right when I say that most Americans want a leader who brings us together as Americans and not someone who claims to be a leader and tries to get us to point fingers at each other,” she said.
The vice president suggested that her support came from Republican officials, including the former vice president Dick Cheney and his daughter, a former representative. Liz Cheney, is a result of people being “tired” of Trump.
“I think now, given the hatred and the division that we see with Donald Trump, people are more willing to say, ‘Hey, let’s put country first.’ I think that just makes us stronger and healthier as a country,” she said.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
The Vice President59, is a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and U.S. senator. She gave a few answers when asked to share one thing she wants people to know about her that they don’t already know.
“It’s probably not that different from anyone watching right now,” she said. “I love my family. One of my favorite things that I haven’t been able to do lately is Sunday family dinner. I love cooking.”
Harris also said that her best friend from kindergarten “is still my best friend.”
