US Vice-President Kamala Harris has blamed Republicans for failing to pass a border bill, after being pressed on immigration in a televised interview with Fox News.
In a combative interview with host Bret Baier, on Wednesday local time, Ms Harris was asked to defend the Biden administration’s early decision to reverse some of former president Donald Trump’s restrictive policies.
The nearly 30-minute interview marked the first time Ms Harris has appeared on the media network as a presidential candidate.
Grilled on immigration
Ms Harris was also shown a video clip of a mother whose child was killed by an immigrant who illegally crossed the border.
“I’m so sorry for her loss, but let’s talk about what is happening right now,” Ms Harris said.
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Ms Harris said Trump told Republicans to reject a bipartisan immigration bill because “he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem”.
When asked about her recent comment that there was “not a thing” she would change about the Biden administration’s actions, Ms Harris said “my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” but did not provide specifics.
Ms Harris was further questioned about previously vouching for President Biden’s mental fitness for office, before he pulled out of the race.
Ms Harris was pressed on her position on using taxpayer funds for gender-affirming surgery for transgender inmates and said she will “follow the law.”
She added that the US Bureau of Prisons provided gender-affirming treatments under Trump and accused him of “throwing stones” while living in a glass house.
Appealing to Republicans
The interview was part of a direct appeal by Ms Harris to Republican voters in November’s US presidential election, as she highlighted in a battleground county in Pennsylvania before appearing on conservative-leaning Fox News.
Earlier just outside Pennsylvania’s largest city of Philadelphia, Ms Harris emphasised Trump’s attempt to overturn his election loss four years ago after he lost to President Biden.
Ms Harris speaks in a battleground county in Pennsylvania before appearing on Fox News. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)
Over 100 Republicans were at the event.
Ms Harris said Trump’s actions violated the constitution and he will violate it again if he is given the chance.
“He refused to accept the will of the people and the results of a free and fair election,” she said in Bucks County.
“He sent a mob, an armed mob, to the United States Capitol, where they violently assaulted police officers, law enforcement officials and threatened the life of his own vice president.”
Ms Harris is also considering joining podcaster Joe Rogan, whose show reaches millions of men across the political spectrum, according to Reuters.
Republicans overtook Democrats in the number of voter registrations in Bucks County for the first time in a generation.