Kamala Harris ‘doesn’t regret’ defending Joe Biden’s ability to stay president – as she reveals moment she found out he’s stepping aside
Kamala Harris doesn’t “at all” regret defending Joe Biden’s ability to serve another four years as president – as she revealed the moment he told her he was stepping aside.
President Biden withdrew from the race for the White House in July after weeks of scrutiny over his age and fitness, most notably after a disastrous debate showing against Donald Trump.
Ms Harris, who is serving as his vice president, had backed Mr Biden to continue until that point and said it has been an “honour” to serve in his administration.
“He has the intelligence, the commitment and the judgement and disposition that I think the American people rightly deserve in their president,” she told CNN.
“By contrast, the former president has none of that.”
Kamala Harris had defended Joe Biden’s ability to serve. Pic: AP
In her first mainstream media interview since being named as the Democrat nominee, she revealed she was about to work on a puzzle with her young nieces when Mr Biden called.
“The phone rang and it was Joe Biden and he told me what he had decided to do and I asked him, ‘are you sure?’ And he said ‘yes’ and that’s how I learned about it,” she said.
She said he was “very clear” he was going to endorse her, but she said her first thought was about him.
‘My values haven’t changed’
Ms Harris also insisted her values “have not changed” despite pivoting more towards the centre on certain policies.
She has toughened her position on migration along the southern US border with Mexico and no longer wants a ban on fracking, an energy production method employing many in the key state of Pennsylvania.
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“My value around what we need to do to secure our border – that value has not changed,” she said.
“I spent two terms as the attorney general of California prosecuting trans-national criminal organisations, violations of American laws, regarding the illegal passage of guns, drugs and human beings across our border.
“My values have not changed.”
‘Deal needed in Gaza’
A Palestinian man mourns the loss of a relative in this week’s attacks. Pic: AP
On foreign affairs, she said a ceasefire and hostage release deal is needed in Gaza, while she reiterated support for Israel and maintained “too many innocent Palestinians have been killed”.
“Israel has a right to defend itself… and how it does so matters,” she said.
“Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, and we have got to get a deal done.”
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She did not offer any change in the current status quo policy.
Republican in cabinet
She also discussed the possibility of adding a Republican to her potential cabinet, adding she wanted a diversity of opinion.
“I think it’s important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences,” she said.
“And I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my cabinet who was a Republican.”
She said there was “no one particular” in mind for the potential role.
‘Next question please’
Turning attention back to Mr Trump, Ms Harris was asked about his claim the multicultural Democrat only recently began identifying as black.
“Same old tired playbook,” said Ms Harris, whose mother was born in India and father in Jamaica.
“Next question, please.”
She has long embraced the totality of her identity and graduated from Howard University, a historically black institution.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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