In an interview with NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, Vice President Kamala Harris was questioned about her transparency with the American people regarding President Biden’s mental fitness.
Jackson highlighted Harris’ strong defense of Biden when asked about his age and mental capacity, especially during their 2020 campaign for the Democratic ticket. Harris had supported Biden even after his poor performance in a CNN debate led to his withdrawal from the race.
Jackson pressed Harris, asking, “Can you say that you were honest with the American people about what you saw in those moments with President Biden, as you were with him again and again?“
Harris confidently replied, “Of course. Joe Biden is extremely accomplished, experienced, and capable in every way that anyone would want if they’re president.”
When Jackson followed up by asking if Harris had seen anything behind the scenes similar to Biden’s debate performance, Harris responded, “It was a bad debate. People have bad debates.”
Jackson then pointed out that Biden’s debate performance might have been a key reason why Harris is running for president now, not Biden. Harris responded, “Well, you’d have to ask him if that’s the only reason why.”
When asked for her personal thoughts on Biden’s decision not to run, Harris pivoted, stating, “I’m running for President of the United States. Joe Biden is not. And my presidency will be about bringing a new generation of leadership to America that is focused on the work we need to do to invest in the ambitions and aspirations of the American people.”
Jackson further pushed Harris on whether the American people could trust her to be forthright in difficult moments, especially regarding Biden’s mental state.
Harris reaffirmed her position, stating that after working closely with Biden for years, she felt no hesitation in speaking truthfully about his capabilities. “I have worked with Joe Biden—hours and hours over these four years, whether it be in the Situation Room or the Oval Office… I speak with sincerity and a firsthand account of watching him do this work. I have no reluctance in saying that.”
In a previous interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Harris was similarly asked about her concerns regarding Biden’s mental state after spending so much time working with him.
She reiterated her confidence in Biden’s abilities and, instead, redirected the conversation towards concerns about Donald Trump. “I think the American people have a concern about Donald Trump,” she said, pointing to former national security leaders and even Trump’s former vice president who had spoken out against him.
Harris emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, stating that Trump’s return to power would be dangerous for the country.
Throughout her responses, she maintained her support for Biden’s leadership while framing the 2024 election as a critical choice between the direction of her presidency and the potential return of Trump to the White House.
