Kamala Harris vows bipartisan cabinet and economic reform in first interview

US Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who will jointly compete for American votes in the November presidential election, gave their first interview after receiving the party nomination on CNN.

Harris announced that as President of the USA:

• she will sign a bipartisan law developed in Congress introducing immigration and asylum restrictions,
• on the first day of her presidency, she will begin implementing an economic plan aimed at reducing the cost of basic goods, increasing investments in small businesses, and increasing child tax credits,
• she declared that she does not intend to change US policy towards Israel,
• she announced that she would appoint a Republican politician to her cabinet.

Harris was asked about several issues on which she has changed her stance since the 2020 campaign, including the ban on shale oil and gas extraction through the highly controversial fracking method. This is a critical issue for the economy in the key state of Pennsylvania.

She also had to answer questions about her approach to immigration and securing the southern border of the United States. She assured that her values have not changed. Still, she has travelled extensively around the country and believes that "I believe it is important to build consensus, and it is important to — to — to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems."

The Vice President emphasized that fighting the climate crisis remains essential to her. She pointed to the Inflation Reduction Act passed during her tenure, a historic law containing a list of investments to transform the country's energy supply.

Speaking about immigration, Harris—who during one of the 2020 election debates advocated for "decriminalizing the border"—said that laws must be enforced and, as the Attorney General of California, she fought crime at the border. She announced that when the bipartisan law developed in Congress introducing immigration and asylum restrictions lands on her desk, she will sign it immediately.

The Democratic candidate acknowledged that much remains to be done to reduce inflation. She announced that on the first day of her presidency, she would begin implementing her economic plan to reduce the cost of basic goods, invest in small businesses, and increase child tax credits.

She also defended President Joe Biden's record: passing record investments in infrastructure, expanding industry, and strengthening and enlarging NATO. She also defended the economic achievements of the administration, including limiting the prices of insulin and other prescription drugs.

When asked whether she intends to change policy towards Israel, which is demanded by the progressive wing of the Democrats, Harris replied, "No." She emphasized, however, that the most important thing is to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages because "not only the right thing to do to end this war but will unlock so much of what must happen next," such as resolving the conflict based on a two-state solution, "where Israel is secure and in equal measure the Paletin — the Palestinians have security and self-determination and — and dignity."

Harris declared that she was running because she believed she was the best person for the job for all Americans, regardless of race and gender. She also announced that if she becomes president, she will appoint a Republican politician to her cabinet because she values people with different views and experiences.

Appearing alongside Harris, Walz responded to controversies related to inconsistent statements about his military service and a ticket for driving under the influence. The Minnesota Governor said that his "grammar is not always correct" when discussing the fight against school shootings. He explained his statement in which he compared the rifles used by mass shooters to "war weapons" that he carried in combat. Walz served 24 years in the National Guard but was never deployed to war.