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Bret Baier Confronts Kamala Harris on Border Crisis, Biden's Mental Decline, and Policy Reversals
Bret Baier sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris in a tense interview that challenged her on the administration's immigration policies, the deaths of young women killed by released illegal immigrants, and when she first noticed President Biden's diminished mental faculties. Harris defended the administration's record while repeatedly pivoting to criticisms of Donald Trump, refusing to directly answer questions about policy reversals from her 2019 presidential campaign. The interview revealed sharp contrasts on border security, with Harris pointing to a failed bipartisan bill while Baier pressed her on the families who lost loved ones to violence committed by men released into the country under her administration's policies.
Immigration and Border Security Take Center Stage
Bret Baier opened the interview by pressing Vice President Kamala Harris on one of the most critical issues facing voters: immigration. When asked how many illegal immigrants the administration has released into the country over the past three and a half years, Harris deflected, stating that the focus should be on fixing a broken immigration system rather than dwelling on numbers.
Baier noted that the Homeland Security secretary acknowledged that millions of people have been released into the country. He challenged Harris on the administration's decision to reverse Trump-era border policies, particularly the policy requiring illegal immigrants to be detained through deportation either in the US or in Mexico. Harris responded by highlighting that the first bill her administration offered Congress was the US Citizenship Act of 2021, designed to fix the immigration system.
The Vice President emphasized that the administration has worked to address the asylum system, tighten penalties for illegal crossings, and support a bipartisan border security bill that would have added 1,500 more border agents and stemmed the flow of fentanyl. She blamed Donald Trump for encouraging Republicans to kill the bill so he could run on the problem rather than fix it.
Tragic Cases and Calls for Accountability
Baier confronted Harris with the names of young women—Joselyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, and Laken Riley—who were brutally assaulted and killed by men released into the country at the beginning of the administration. He asked if she owed their families an apology, noting that former President Clinton had stated that if those men had been properly vetted, Laken Riley probably would not have been killed.
Harris expressed sorrow for the losses, calling them tragic cases, but maintained that if the border security bill had been passed nine months earlier, there would have been more border agents and support to prevent future harm. Baier played a clip from one of the mothers who blamed the Biden-Harris administration's open border policies for her daughter's death.
When pressed on whether she owed the families an apology, Harris reiterated her sympathy but shifted focus to Donald Trump's refusal to participate in solutions. She maintained that the administration has been working to fix a broken system that transcends any single presidency.
Policy Reversals and 2019 Campaign Positions
Baier raised questions about Harris's evolving positions on immigration policy, pointing to her 2019 presidential campaign when she supported allowing immigrants in the country illegally to apply for driver's licenses, qualify for free tuition at universities, and be enrolled in free healthcare. When asked if she still supports those positions, Harris stated that was five years ago and she is clear that she will follow the law.
Baier noted that her running mate, Tim Walz, signed those very policies into law as governor of Minnesota. Harris maintained that both she and Walz are clear that they must support and enforce federal law. When asked about decriminalizing border crossings, which she advocated for in 2019, Harris stated she does not believe in decriminalizing border crossings and has not done that as vice president.
The interview also addressed a Trump campaign ad highlighting Harris's support for taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for prisoners and detained illegal aliens. Harris defended her position by stating she would follow the law, noting that such surgeries were available on a medical necessity basis under the Trump administration as well.
Turning the Page While Holding Office
Baier challenged Harris on her campaign slogan of offering "a new way forward" and "turning the page," questioning what she is turning the page from after serving as vice president for three and a half years. He pointed out that more than 70% of people say the country is on the wrong track, and that track follows three and a half years of the Biden-Harris administration.
Harris responded that she is turning the page from the last decade of divisive rhetoric from Donald Trump, rhetoric designed to divide the country and have Americans point fingers at each other. She argued that people are exhausted with a leader who spends time on personal grievances rather than focusing on the American people.
When asked what she would do differently than President Biden, Harris emphasized that her presidency will not be a continuation of Biden's presidency. She noted that she represents a new generation of leadership, has not spent the majority of her career in Washington, and will bring fresh ideas and life experiences to the role.
Biden's Mental Faculties and the 'Enemy Within'
In one of the most pointed exchanges, Baier asked when Harris first noticed that President Biden's mental faculties appeared diminished. He referenced George Clooney's observation that Biden at a fundraiser was not the same person seen at the debate stage, and noted that Harris met with Biden at least once a week for three and a half years.
Harris deflected, stating that Joe Biden is not on the ballot and that Donald Trump is. She praised Biden's judgment and experience in making important decisions on behalf of the American people. When pressed again about concerns, Harris pivoted to criticisms of Trump, citing national security leaders and people who worked with him in the Oval Office who have called him unfit and dangerous.
The interview also addressed Trump's comments about the "enemy within." Harris claimed Trump has repeatedly talked about turning the American military on the American people and locking up those who disagree with him. When Baier played a clip of Trump responding to that characterization during a town hall with Harris Faulkner, Harris insisted the clip was not representative of what Trump has been saying about the enemy within.
Iran as the Greatest Threat
Baier questioned Harris about her statement on 60 Minutes that Iran is America's greatest adversary, noting that many experts, including the FBI director, would say China. Harris defended her position by pointing to her work in the Situation Room responding to Iranian threats against Israel, both in April and October.
She emphasized her commitment to defending and supporting Israel's requirement to defend itself against attacks from Iran and its terrorist proxies in the region. When Baier raised criticism that the administration relaxed or failed to enforce sanctions on Iran, allowing billions to flow into the country, Harris blamed Donald Trump for pulling out of a deal that would have kept Iran in check.
Harris concluded the interview by directing viewers to her campaign website, where she said they could find 80 pages of comprehensive policies on affordable housing, small businesses, and America's military. She maintained that the country has the most lethal and best fighting force in the world.
Video Transcript
Madam vice president thank you for the
time thank you it's good to be with you
Brett you know voters tell holsters all
over the country and here in
Pennsylvania that immigration is one of
the key issues that they're looking at
this election and specifically the
influx of illegal immigrants from more
than 150
countries how many illegal immigrants
would you estimate your Administration
has released into the country over the
last three and a half years well I'm
glad you raised the issue of immigration
because I agree with you it is a it is a
uh topic of discussion that people want
to rightly have and you know what I'm
going to talk about but just a number do
you think it's 1 million 3 million Brett
let's just get to the point okay the
point is that we have a broken
immigration system that needs to be
repaired so your Homeland Security
secretary said that 85% of apprehension
I'm not finished we have a we have of 6
million people have been released into
the country and let me just finish I'll
get to the question I promise you
beginning to answer and when when you
came into office your Administration
immediately reversed a number of trump
border policies most significantly the
policy that required illegal immigrants
to be detained through deportation
either in the US or in Mexico and you
switched that policy they were released
from custody awaiting trial so instead
included in those were a large number of
single men adult men who went on to
commit heinous crimes so looking back do
you regret the decision to terminate
remain in Mexico at the beginning of
your administration at the beginning of
our Administration within practically
hours of taking the oath the first bill
that we offered Congress before we
worked on infrastructure before the
inflation reduction act before the chips
and science act before any before the
bipartisan safer communities act the
first first bill practically within
hours of taking the oath was a bill to
fix our immigration system yes ma'am it
was called the US citizen Citizenship
Act of
2021 it was essentially halfway to
citizenship may I finish may I finish
responding please but you have to let me
finish you had the White House and the
house and the Senate and they didn't
bring responding to the point you're
raising and I'd like to finish yes
ma'am we recognize from day one that to
the point of this being your first
question it is a
priority for us as a nation and for the
American people and our Focus has been
on fixing a problem and from day one
then we have done a number of things
including to address our Asylum system
and put put more resources getting more
judges what we needed to do to tighten
up penalties and increase penalties for
illegal Crossings what we needed to do
do to deal with PS points of Entry
between border entry points that's the
work we did and we worked on supporting
what was a bipartisan effort including
some of the most conservative members of
the United States Congress to actually
strengthen the border that border bill
would have put 1,500 more border agents
at the border which is why I believe the
border patrol agents supported the bill
it would have allowed us to stem the
flow of fentanyl coming into the United
States which is a scorge affecting
people of every background every
geographic location in our country
killing people it would have allowed us
to put more resources into Prosecuting
transnational criminal organizations
which I have done as the Attorney
General former Attorney General of a
border state mad vice president a couple
prosecuted trafficking of drugs guns and
human beings and Don TR but let me just
finish Democrats voted against that bill
learned about that bill and told them to
kill it because he prefer to run on
problem instead of fixing a problem and
in this election this is rightly a
discussion that the American people want
to have and what they want are solutions
and they want a president of the United
States who's not playing political games
with the issue but actually is focused
on fixing six Democrats voted against
that bill it would have allowed 1.8
million illegal immigrants into the
country a year a lot a lot of
conservatives had a problem with it
these are the six Democrats but more
importantly back to the original premise
Joselyn Nary Rachel Moren Laken Riley
they are young women who were brutally
assaulted and killed by some of the men
who were released at the beginning of
the administration well before a
negotiated uh bipartisan Bill former
President Clinton actually referred to
Lake and Riley Sunday campaigning for
you in Georgia saying if those men had
been properly vetted Lake and Riley
probably would not have been killed so
if it wouldn't have happened this is
well before any negotiation this is well
before Donald Trump got involved in the
politics this is a specific policy
decision by your Administration to
release these men into the country so
what I'm saying to you do you owe those
families an apology let me just say
first of all those are tragic cases
there's no question about that there is
no question about that and I can't
imagine the pain that the families of
those victims have
experienced for a loss that should not
have
occurred so that is true it is also true
that if a border of security had
actually been passed 9 months ago it
would be nine
months that we would have had more
border agents at the border more support
for the folks who are working around the
clock trying to hold it all together
Madam vice president to ensure that no
future harm would occur and this
election in 20 days
will determine whether we have a
president of the United States who
actually cares more about fixing a
problem even if it is not to their
political advantage in an election
because there was a solution Brett Madam
vice president it was a policy decision
in the early part of your Administration
I will let one of the mothers talk about
it take a
listen because of the Biden Harris
Administration open border policies
Catch and Release they were enrolled in
the alternatives to detention program
this meant that they were released into
the United States it was not even a full
3 weeks later that they would take my
daughter Joselyn n's life I believe the
Biden Harris Administration open border
policies are responsible for the death
of my daughter that's the early days so
do you owe them an apology is what I'm
saying I will tell you that I am so
sorry for her loss I'm so sorry for her
loss
sincerely but let's talk about
what is happening right now with an
individual who does not want to
participate in Solutions let's talk
about that as well in all fairness I
told you I feel awful for what she and
her family have experienced during that
time you said repeatedly that the Border
was Secure when in your mind did it
start becoming a
crisis I think it we've had a broken
immigration system transcending by the
way Donald Trump's Administration even
before
let's let's all be honest about that I
have no pride in saying that this is a
perfect immigration system I've been
clear I think we all
are that it needs to be fixed we need
more I was just down at the border
talking with border agents and they will
tell you and I'm sure you probably I
know you investigate and you are a
serious journalist they will tell you we
need more judges we need to proc we need
to process those cases faster we need
this support for those cases that should
be
prosecuted they need more resources and
Congress ultimately is the only place
that that's going to get fixed Brett
that's how the system works that's the
premise of this question there were 90
plus executive orders that were
rescinded in the first days many of
those were Trump border policies I'm not
going to stay here because there's other
things to talk about but you frequently
talk to the border patrol Union for
support of that bipartisan Bill and they
did they supported it but they also just
endorsed Donald Trump and said you've
been quote a failure with border
security why do you think they said that
I think they're frustrated and I get it
they want
support they want support and that's
what that border security bill would
have done these guys down at the border
these men and women they're working hard
they're working around the clock I get
it there's a lot of people that look
back in what you said at 2019 when you
first ran for president uh and there
have been changes and you've talked
about some of them when it comes to
integr immigration you supported
allowing immigrants in the country
illegally to apply for driver's license
to qualify for free tuition at
universities to be enrolled in free
healthcare do you still support those
things listen that was 5 years ago and
I'm very clear that I will follow the
law I have made that statement over and
over again and as Vice President of the
United States that's exactly what I've
done not to mention before you if that's
the case you chose a running mate Tim
Walls who governor of Minnesota who
signed those very things into state law
so do you support
that we are very clear and I am very
clear as is Tim Walls that we must
support and enforce federal law and that
is exactly what we will do so
decriminalizing border crossings like
you said in 2019 I I do not believe in
decriminalizing border crossings and
I've not done that as vice president I
will not do that as president so these
are Evolutions that you've had well
let's be very clear I'm the only person
who's running for president who has
prosecuted transnational criminal
organizations from the caloa cartel to
the guad lahara quel cartel to people
who have trafficked in guns drugs and
human beings I have spent a significant
part of my career going after people who
present a threat to the safety of the
American people and and cross our border
with the intent of doing us harm and
cross our our border illegally and I
will do that work as vice president I
take that work quite seriously this is a
time when voters especially here in
Pennsylvania are inundated with
commercials and ads they just want it to
stop because it's every commercial but
many of them add noise but a few of them
seem to break through this particular
one from the Trump campaign has gotten a
lot of attention comma supports taxpayer
funded sex changes for prisoners surgery
um for prisoners for prisoners every
transgender inmate in the prison system
would have
access so are you still in support of
using taxpayer dollars to help prison
inmates or detained illegal aliens to
transition to another gender I will
follow the law and it's a law that
Donald Trump actually followed um you're
probably familiar with now it's a public
report that under Donald Trump's
Administration these uh surgeries were
available to on a medical necess
necessity basis to people in the federal
prison system and I think frankly that
ad from the Trump campaign is a little
bit of like throwing you know Stones
when you're living in a glass house the
Trump AIDS say that he never advocated
for that prison policy and no gender
transition surgeries happen responsible
for what happened in your Administration
yeah no surgeries happened in his preg
presid would you still advocate for
using taxpayer dollars for gender
reassignment I follow the law just as I
think Donald Trump would say he did you
would have a say as president I like I
said I think it's really he spent $20
million on those ads trying to create a
sense of fear in the voters because he
actually has no plan in this election
that is about focusing on the needs of
the American people whereas at $20
million on that ad on an issue that as
it relates to the biggest issues that
affect the American people is really
quite remote and again his policy was no
different look at where we are though on
plans for the American people I'm
offering a plan to deal with affordable
housing I'm offering a plan to deal with
what we need to do to strengthen small
businesses which are the backbone of
America's economy I am offering a plan
that is about taking care of young
parents and giving them the support they
need my plans for the economy will
strengthen the economy as have been
reviewed by 16 Nobel
laurates Goldman Sachs Moody's and
recently The Wall Street Journal which
have all studied our plans and have
indicated my plans for our economy would
strengthen our economy his would make
them weaker would IGN inflation and
invite a recession by the middle of next
year those are the facts why do you
think more people say they trust him on
the economy than they trust you I think
that when you look at an analysis of our
plans for what we would do as president
of the United States it has been clear
to those who stud stud and understand
how Economic Policy works that moving
forward cuz I do believe the American
people are ready to turn the page on the
divisiveness and the the type of
rhetoric that has come out of Donald
Trump people are ready to chart a new
way forward and they want a president
who has a plan for the future and a plan
that is sound and will strengthen our
country my plan for the economy does
exactly that his plan would be again to
give tax cuts to billionaires and the
biggest corporations in our country and
blow up our deficit it's interesting you
said Turn the Page Madam vice president
you were asked on two different shows
last week what if anything you would do
differently than President Biden here's
what you said would you have done
something differently than President
Biden during the past four
years there is not a thing that comes to
mind in terms of and I've been a part of
of of most of the decisions that have
had impact under a Harris
Administration what would the major
changes be and what would stay the same
sure well I mean I'm obviously not Joe
Biden um and so that would be one change
in terms of but also I think it's
important to say with you know 28 days
to go I'm not Donald Trump so you're not
Joe Biden you're not Donald Trump but
but nothing comes to mind that you would
do differently let me be very clear my
presidency will not be a continuation of
Joe Biden's presidency and like every
new president that comes in to office I
will bring my life experiences my
professional experiences and fresh and
new ideas I represent a new generation
of leadership I for example am someone
who has not spent the majority of my
career in Washington DC I invite ideas
whether it be from the Republicans who
are supporting me who were just on stage
with me minutes ago and the business
sector and others who can contribute to
the decisions that I make about for
example my plan for increasing the
supply of housing in America and
bringing down the cost of housing
addressing the issue of small businesses
which is about working with the private
sector to bring more capital and access
to Capital to our Small Business Leaders
including my plan for a
$25,000 down payment assistance for
firsttime home buyers and for small
businesses extending the tax deduction
from $5,000 to $50,000 we heard a lot
about those plans in in recent days your
campaign slogan is a new way forward and
it's time to turn the page you've been
vice president for 3 and 1/2 years so
what are you turning the page
from well first of all turning the page
from the last
decade in which we've been burdened with
the kind of rhetoric coming from Donald
Trump that has been designed and
implemented to divide our country and
have Americans literally point fingers
at each other rhetoric and an approach
to leadership that suggests that the
strength of a leader is based on who you
beat down instead of what we all know
the strength of leadership is based on
who you lift up the strength of an
American president which is one who
understands that the vast majority of us
have more in common than what separates
us more 70% of people that is about
turning the page on rhetoric that people
are frankly exhausted of bre more than
7% people tell the country is on the
wrong track they say the country is on
the wrong track if it's on the wrong
track that track follows three and A2
years of you being vice president and
President Biden being president that is
what they're saying 79% of them why are
they saying that if you're turning the
page you've been in office for three and
a half years and Donald Trump has been
running for office but you've been the
person holding the
office I both know what I'm talking
about you and I both know what I'm
talking don't what are you talking about
talking about is that over the last
decade people have become but listen
over the last decade it is clear to me
and certainly the Republicans who are on
stage with me the the the former Chief
of Staff to the president Donald Trump
uh former defense secretaries National
Security adviser and his vice president
one that he is unfit to serve that he is
unstable that he is dangerous and that
people are exhausted with someone who
professes to be a leader who spends
fulltime demeaning and and and engaging
in personal Grievances and it being
about him instead of the American people
people are tired of that if that's the
case why is half the country supporting
him why is he beating you in a lot of
Swing States why if he's as bad as you
say that half of this country is now
supporting this person who could be the
47th president of the United States why
is that happening this is an election
for President of the United States it's
not supposed to be easy I know but it's
not supposed to be it it is not supposed
to be a are they misguided the 50% are
they stupid what oh god I would never
say that about the American people and
in fact if you listen to Donald Trump if
you watch any of his rallies he's the
one who tends to demean and belittle and
diminish the American people he's the
one who talks about an enemy within
within an Enemy Within talking about the
American people suggesting he would turn
the American Military on the American
people we asked that question to the
former president today Harris fauler had
a a town hall and this is how he
responded I heard about that they they
were saying I was like threatening I'm
not threatening anybody they're the ones
doing the threatening they do phony
investigations I've been investigated
more than alons Capone he was the
greatest no it's true think of it it's
called weaponization of government it's
a terrible thing so Brett I I'm sorry
and with all due respect that clip was
not what he has been saying about the
Enemy Within that he has
repeated when he's speaking about the
American people that's not what you just
showed he was asked about that no that's
not what you just showed in all fairness
and respect that was the question that
we asked him he didn't show that and
here's the bottom line he has repeated
it many times and you and I both know
that and you and I both know that he has
talked about turning the American
Military on the American people he has
talked about going after people who are
engaged in peaceful protest he has
talked about locking people up because
they disagree with him this is a
democracy and in in a democracy the
president of the United States in the
United States of America should be
willing to be able to handle criticism
without saying he'd lock people up for
doing it and this is what is at stake
which is why you have someone like the
former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff saying what Mark Millie has said
about Donald Trump being a threat to the
United States of America he's quoted in
the Bob Woodward book that way yes let
me ask you this Madam vice president you
call Donald Trump signicance of you call
Donald Trump um he's misguided you say
now he un unstable he is unstable he's
not well you say he's mentally not
stable he's not stable let me ask you
this you told many interviewers that Joe
Biden was on his game that ran around
circles on his staff when did you first
notice that President Biden's mental
faculties appeared
diminished Joe
Biden I have watched in from the Oval
Office to the situation room and he has
the judgment and the experiment and
experience to do exactly what he has has
done in making very important decisions
on behalf of the American people Jo no
concerns raised Joe Biden is not on the
ballot I understand and Donald Trump
Donald Trump is you talked about it
Donald Trum George Clooney said within a
few minutes of talking to President
Biden at a fundraiser that he thought
this was not the same Joe Biden that we
saw on the debate stage is on the ballot
I understand you met with him at least
once a week for 3 and 1/2 years you
didn't have any
concerns I think the American people
have a concern about Donald Trump which
is why the people who know him best
including leaders of our national
security Community have all spoken out
even people who worked for him in the
Oval Office worked with him in the
situation room and have said he is
unfit and dangerous and should never be
president of the United States again
including his former vice president
which is why the job was open
for him to choose another running mate
so that is a fact that is a
fact Madam vice president two more
things you were asked on 60 Minutes
about the biggest threat that the world
faces that the US faces this is what you
said which foreign country do you
consider to be our greatest adversary I
think there's an obvious um one in mind
is Iran Iran has American blood on their
hands okay this this attack on Israel
200 ballistic missiles um what we need
to do to ensure that um Iran never
achieves the ability to be a nuclear
power that is one of my highest
priorities a number of expert experts
thought you would say China um the FBI
director had said that but you said Iran
if that's the case what do you say to
critics uh who look at the actions of
your ad Administration and say you're
not acting like Iran is the number one
threat well I I will tell you most
recently whether it was in April or in
October in then several hours on each
occasion that Iran posed a threat to
Israel I was there uh most recently in
The Situation Room in the most recent
attack working with the heads of our
military and doing what America must
always do to defend and to support
Israel in its requirement to defend
itself and to give American Support to
be able to allow Israel to have the
resources to defend itself against
attack including from Iran and Iran's
terrorist proxies in the region and that
is
proxies my commitment to that is
unyielding and unwavering critics just
say that you either relaxed or failed to
to enforce sanctions on Iran allowing
all of this money to flow into Iran like
billions let's go back to Donald Trump
who who pulled out of who pulled out of
a deal that would have actually put Iran
in check the estimates bil during Donald
Trump's Administration IR regime that
that we had an American Military Base
that was attacked where American
soldiers suffered traumatic brain
injuries and Donald Trump dismissed them
as headaches not to mention how Donald
Trump has has treated and talked about
America's military and military service
people calling them suckers and losers
Hamas has diminished sign talking over
each other I apologize and I I I would
like that we would have a a conversation
that is grounded in full assessment of
the facts which includ includes I think
this interview is supposed to be about
the choices that your viewers should be
presented about this election and the
contrast is important yes ma'am and on
the subject of Iran I am
offering what should be an an important
contrast that is presented for folks to
make a
decision who look at what the
administration did and say and think
differently Madam vice president they're
wrapping me very hard
here I hope you got to say what you
wanted to say about Donald Trump there
are a lot of things there more to say I
there are a lot of things that people
want to learn about you and your
policies and that's why I invite
everyone to go to kamah harris.com and
you will see that I have 80 uh pages of
policies that are quite comprehensive
and should be um accessible to anyone
who would like to read them and it
includes what I intend to do about
affordable housing what I intend to do
about small businesses what I do
eom to see where you were in 2019 and
where you are America's military and Ure
we have the most lethal and best
fighting force in the world Madam vice
president they're giving me a hard wrap
here well I thank you for the time I
thank you for the time it's good to meet
you thank you very much thank you
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