Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent interview on “60 Minutes” provided a rare glimpse into her perspectives on a range of pressing issues, from foreign diplomacy to her personal experiences as a gun owner. The interview, which aired just weeks before Election Day, saw Harris handling tough questions while sticking to her key talking points. Here are the seven most important takeaways from Harris’s appearance on the show.
- Harris Maintained Control of Her Message Despite Pressing Questions
Throughout the interview, Harris remained calm and composed, staying focused on her main messages, even when pressed for more specific details. For instance, when asked about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Harris refrained from giving exact steps the Biden-Harris administration would take to end the war. Instead, she spoke broadly about the importance of diplomatic efforts and U.S. principles, avoiding direct pushback on whether the administration had lost sway over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Her responses to questions about illegal immigration followed a similar pattern. When asked if the administration should have acted earlier to restrict immigration, Harris emphasized the administration’s broader goals without addressing the specifics of the criticism.
- She Owns a Glock and Is Comfortable Using It
In a more personal moment, Harris revealed that she owns a Glock, a popular handgun, which she has fired—though only at a shooting range. This revelation aligns with her background in law enforcement, having served as California’s Attorney General and a district attorney before becoming vice president. Her ownership of the gun was perhaps unexpected, but Harris quickly connected it to her professional experience, saying, “Look, my background is in law enforcement, and so there you go.”
- Facing Realistic Challenges for Economic Proposals
Harris was repeatedly asked how she would fund some of her more ambitious economic proposals, such as her plan for a $6,000 child tax credit for families with infants. She pointed to her goal of raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans to pay for these policies. However, CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker challenged her, noting that her plans might face significant opposition in Congress.
Harris acknowledged that while she believed many lawmakers would be willing to engage privately, public policy outcomes often tell a different story. Her comments underscored the difficulty she may face in pushing her agenda through Congress, particularly in a polarized political environment.
- Tim Walz Received a Warning About His Public Statements
Harris’s running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, admitted that Harris had given him advice on how to be more careful with his language in public. This came after Whitaker asked about any disagreements the two have had during their campaign. Walz confessed that, while he sometimes tends to “embellish” in his statements, Harris had reminded him of the importance of being cautious in public remarks.
Walz compared his own comments to those of Donald Trump, calling the former president “a pathological liar” and suggesting that his own occasional missteps paled in comparison.
- Unexpected Ally: Liz Cheney
In a lighter exchange, Harris laughed when asked about her newfound partnership with former Representative Liz Cheney, a staunch conservative. Cheney, who has become a prominent critic of Donald Trump, is now campaigning with Harris. When Whitaker posed the question of whether she could have imagined four years ago that she would be on the campaign trail with Cheney, Harris responded, “That’d be great,” with a smile.
Cheney, too, expressed her surprise at the alliance, but emphasized that the country’s democratic institutions are at stake. She said that if someone had told her in the past that she would need to campaign with Harris to defend the rule of law, she would have readily agreed, given the threat she believes Trump poses.
- Foreign Policy Will Closely Resemble Biden’s
When it comes to foreign policy, Harris indicated that her approach as president would be closely aligned with that of the Biden administration. She emphasized that any peace negotiations with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine would have to involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Harris also critiqued Trump’s claims that he could end the war in Ukraine on “Day 1” of his presidency, characterizing it as a move toward surrender.
Harris also labeled Iran as the United States’ greatest adversary, stating that the country has “American blood on their hands.” However, she declined to speculate on what military actions she might take, dismissing the questions as hypothetical.
- Trump Turned Down ‘60 Minutes’ — Harris Took Advantage
During the interview, Whitaker disclosed that Trump had originally agreed to an interview with “60 Minutes” but later backed out. Harris seized the opportunity to criticize Trump for avoiding tough conversations, saying that he prefers to focus on personal grievances rather than engaging in meaningful policy discussions. She suggested that viewers could see this for themselves by watching his rallies, which she claimed are more about Trump’s own issues than substantive political discourse.
Kamala Harris’s appearance on “60 Minutes” provided a platform for her to showcase her political poise, even when faced with difficult questions. While she stayed largely on message, she also revealed more personal details and managed to take advantage of her opponent’s absence to further highlight the contrast between their approaches to governance.
