Republican vice-presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, sharply criticised Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, accusing her of deflecting responsibility for issues that arose during her time in office by blaming former President Donald Trump.
Vance’s remarks came in response to Harris’s interview with “Special Report” anchor Bret Baier, in which she insisted her presidency would not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s, despite being unable to name changes she would have made in his administration.
Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” Vance expressed scepticism about Harris’s claims, suggesting that her tenure would mirror Biden’s if elected president. “The entire theme of her campaign is that she hasn’t even met the person that’s the president, even though she’s his sitting vice president and ran along the ticket with him,” Vance remarked.
He noted her critical role in passing major spending bills during Biden’s presidency, adding, “She is, of course, the deciding vote in trillions of Joe Biden’s spending.”
Vance went further, stating that Harris’s attempts to shift blame to Trump reflected “something pathological.” He criticised her for avoiding responsibility despite nearly four years in power. “When asked about how she would be different, she goes and talks about Donald Trump,” he said, labelling her responses during the interview as “bizarre.”
During the interview, Harris dismissed criticism of her time in office, referencing Trump’s decade-long political career when asked about her nearly four-year tenure as vice president.
Vance expressed disbelief, questioning her inability to acknowledge any responsibility for border security, grocery affordability, and international tensions. “What is it in this person’s mind that can’t just acknowledge that she has been in power for three and a half years and bears some responsibility?” Vance questioned.
Vance accused Harris of pretending that Trump was responsible for problems that arose during her time as vice president. “I’ve never seen a person who’s running for president, as the sitting vice president, who pretends that she has nothing to do with the condition of the country she’s been governing,” he said.
Harris’s interview with Baier followed a similar exchange on “The View,” where she struggled to name any changes she would have made in Biden’s administration. When pressed by Baier, Harris insisted that her presidency would bring fresh ideas and leadership. “I will bring my life experiences, professional experiences, and fresh and new ideas. I represent a new generation of leadership,” Harris said.
Harris argued that her administration would turn the page on a decade of divisive rhetoric, particularly from Trump. She emphasised that leadership should focus on uplifting others rather than division. “Turning the page from the last decade… suggests that the strength of leadership is based on who you lift,” she said, stressing that Americans are exhausted by divisive rhetoric.
Baier pointed out that 79% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track and asked what Harris intends to change after three and a half years in office.
Harris again pivoted to Trump, emphasising his long-standing political presence. When Baier pressed her on her role in the current administration, she replied, “You and I both know what I’m talking about.”
Vance’s critique highlights growing tensions as the 2024 election approaches. Both sides are debating who is responsible for the country’s current state and the direction it should take moving forward.