Kamala Harris pulled up on glaring contradiction over Joe Biden in awkward ABC 7.30 interview
Kamala Harris has stumbled through an uncomfortable ABC interview where she was pulled up on a series of conflicting statements.
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with ABC’s Sarah Ferguson on 7.30 for what was billed as a candid discussion of her new book and reflections on the 2024 election.
What unfolded instead was a tense and uncomfortable exchange in which Ferguson pressed Ms Harris on her glaring contradictions, including her reluctance to criticise the Democratic Party, Joe Biden’s health, and the weaknesses of a campaign that struggled to connect with voters.
The interview began with election night 2024, with Ms Harris recalling the moment her campaign manager told her the race was lost. She said she was in “shock” that Americans had chosen Trump again.
“I was in a complete state of shock, and so much so that the only words I could speak, over and over again, were: ‘My God, my God, my God’,” she said, comparing her emotions to the grief she felt when her mother died.
“It wasn’t about winning or losing. It was an altogether other thing that was about what will happen.”
But as Harris attempted to steer the interview into her regular anti-Trump talking points, Ferguson quickly moved to her time as vice president and the responsibility she bared in the loss.
Much of the interview focused on President Joe Biden’s decision to run for re-election, a move Ms Harris now calls “reckless” not to have opposed.
A report released this week by a Republican led committee in the US House of Representatives claimed the former president’s actions were “not all his own” after the Democratic machine hid details of his health from the public.
The House Oversight Committee report, which has been rubbished by Democrats, alleged the party’s “inner circle” took steps to “meticulously stage-manage” his public appearances, lighten his private workload, and even block politicians from talking to him.
Undoubtedly, however, Mr Biden’s election debate against Donald Trump was a train wreck.
“I reflect on not talking him out of running and why I didn’t. And I ask myself was it grace or was it recklessness … and I think it was reckless,” Ms Harris said.
‘Not the question I asked you’
The most awkward moment came when Ferguson challenged Ms Harris for pivoting away from tough questions over Mr Biden. After Ms Harris deflected criticism of him by pointing to Mr Trump’s “misrepresentation of his intentions,” Ferguson cut in.
“That is a world-class pivot but it is not the question I asked you,” she said.
Ms Harris bit back asking the ABC host to “be more specific”.
But then her curated answer sheet started to fall apart. When asked on Mr Biden’s age and frailties, Ms Harris repeatedly defended him.
“I did not question Joe Biden’s capacity to be president at all … I never doubted that he had the capacity to be president of the United States,” she said.
Ferguson interrupted, pointing to Mr Biden’s disastrous debate performance and a highlight reel of uncomfortable public slip-ups.
Ms Harris shrugged it off and blamed Mr Biden’s travel schedule and exhaustion.
Ms Harris also described the immense challenge of facing Mr Trump on short notice. Because the Democratic Party insisted Mr Biden was fit to run until the very last minute, Ms Harris was forced into a rushed campaign.
The broader critique of her campaign was its narrow focus. Democrats placed heavy emphasis on women’s health and reproductive rights and assumed frustration with Mr Trump would be enough to carry them over the line.
That calculation backfired horribly.
Inflation, immigration, and distrust of Washington were top concerns for many Americans,.
Ferguson put it to Ms Harris that she and the Democrats had to face the fact that they had “misjudged the scene.”
Ms Harris admitted things could have been done differently, but largely blamed the loss on short notice.
“There was an impact … had we more time, perhaps the outcome would have been different. That is a fact,” she said.
Harris’ reluctant praise for Trump
Ms Harris began the interview repeating the party line, that Mr Trump was a disaster for America. But she couldn’t dig herself out of a question about the current president’s work in the recent Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange.
“First of all, I give credit where credit is due. I applaud that the hostages are out. I applaud that there is a ceasefire. I … It may be temporary. We will see. Each day, we’re seeing different levels of activity come out of that region. I give credit to the Egyptians, the Qataris and President Trump for arriving at the agreement,” she said.
She quickly added that “more work needs to be done” and stressed the uncertainty of “enduring peace”.
It marked one of the few instances in the interview where Ms Harris openly credited Mr Trump’s actions.
Ferguson then pressed her on whether Mr Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize he has long coveted. Ms Harris declined to entertain that idea, instead saying that the long-term questions of governance, security, and rebuilding in Gaza remained unresolved.
