cbsVice President Kamala Harris was pressed on the Middle East, Ukraine, gun ownership and immigration during a one-on-one interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
The taped interview comes as Harris increases media appearances on a range of podcasts and television networks, despite criticism that she has given little voice.
Donald Trump was also invited to be interviewed on “60 Minutes,” but he declined.
With less than a month until Election Day, the race for the White House is between Democratic and Republican opponents.
BBC America partner CBS News aired the interview on Monday night after both Harris and Trump attended an event marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel.
After the latest public disagreement between the White House and Jerusalem, Harris refused to agree when asked by reporter Bill Whitaker if Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu was a “strong ally” of the United States.
“Our diplomatic work with Israel’s leadership is an ongoing pursuit around clarifying our principles,” Harris said.
“I think, with all due respect, the better question is whether there is a significant alliance between us as the American people and the people of Israel,” she continued. “The answer to that question is yes.”
In more tense moments, Harris was also forced to defend her immigration record, which has come under fierce attack from Trump and Republicans.
Whitaker asked her whether it would be a “mistake” to ease border restrictions put in place by Trump, given that the Biden-Harris administration has reimposed restrictions three years after taking control of the White House.
“This is a long-standing problem. The solution is at hand. We’ve been delivering solutions, literally from day one,” she said, accusing Trump of pressuring congressional Republicans to Undermining a border deal that would have strengthened immigration enforcement.
The reporter replied: “What I want to ask is, was it a mistake to allow the flood to happen in the first place?”
Harris responded that “the policies we propose are designed to solve problems, not contribute to them,” and said she and Biden had “cut illegal immigration in half.”
On Ukraine, Harris said she would not sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Ukraine was also at the table.
She slammed Trump’s stance, saying: “He said, oh, he could end this on day one. You know what that is? It’s about surrender,” she said.
She said that if Trump were still president, “Putin would be in Kiev right now.”
She was also asked about her economic plans and how her government would fund some of its plans, which could increase the U.S. national deficit by 3 lire (2.3 lire) over the next decade.
“My economic plan will strengthen the American economy. His economic plan will weaken the American economy,” she said, adding that her plan relies on “strengthening small businesses.”
Asked again how she would pay for it, Harris responded that she would raise taxes “at a level that the richest among us can afford.”
On Monday, a new analysis from the nonpartisan group the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that Trump’s proposal would increase the U.S. national debt by twice Harris’ amount.
The organization said Trump would add $7.5 trillion and Harris would add $3.5 trillion.
The think tank warned that neither would address the country’s growing debt of $35.6 trillion.
During the interview, Harris also discussed gun ownership and revealed that her handgun is made by the Austrian company Glock.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said, noting that her “background is in law enforcement.”
Harris, a former district attorney in California, laughed and said, “Of course I did, at a shooting range” when asked if she had fired the weapon.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, also spoke on the same show, criticizing Trump’s comments about opponents and immigrants.
“They’re dehumanizing, they’re so strange because, I said, it’s almost becoming dangerous. Let’s try to debate policy in a real way, let’s try to find objective truth again.”
He also defended his record of making false statements about his military service and travels to Asia in the 1980s.
Walz described himself as a “story teller and dater of mistakes” rather than a “pathological liar” like Trump.
“I admit to being a fool sometimes, but those closest to me know that I keep my word.”
Trump was also invited to appear on “60 Minutes.” He accepted, but later changed his mind and declined, CBS reported.
Trump’s campaign has disputed that he ever agreed to the interview. His spokesman Zhang Kangning called it “fake news.”
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump backed out of an interview with CBS host Leslie Stahl out of frustration over concerns about Covid-19.
Earlier on Monday, Harris planted a pomegranate tree in the garden of the Vice President’s residence in Washington to commemorate those who died on October 7.
“This is a symbol of hope and justice … that reminds the future vice president of the United States not only of the horror of October 7th, but of the strength and endurance of the Jewish people,” Harris said.
Former President Donald Trump donned a black yarmulke on Monday when he visited Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, the final resting place of Rabbi Schneerson in Queens, New York.
The site is considered the holiest Jewish site in North America, according to some Orthodox Jews.
