Vice President Kamala Harris’ interview Wednesday on Fox News was tense from the jump. In one of the more hostile moments, the Democratic presidential candidate told host Bret Baier that he was downplaying one of Donald Trump’s most inflammatory comments.
The discussion began after Harris brought up the former president’s recent comments in which he labeled “radical left crazies” as “the enemy from within” and claimed they should be “treated” with military force.
“He’s the one talking about an enemy within… and suggesting he would turn the American military against the American people,” Harris said of her Republican rival for president.
Baier responded that Fox News had asked Trump about those comments earlier Wednesday and then played a clip of Trump defending his words. In the clip, Trump says his opponents have exaggerated his comments and that he is the one being portrayed as the enemy.
Harris wasn’t having it.
“Bret, I’m sorry, and with all due respect, that excerpt was not what he said about ‘the enemy within,’ which he repeated when talking about the American people. That’s not what you just showed,” she said.
Harris and Baier chatted for a while as he began to defend his use of the clip.
“Bottom line: He’s repeated it many times, and you and I both know it,” Harris said. “And you and I both know that he has talked about turning the American military against the American people. He has spoken about pursuing people involved in peaceful protest. He has talked about locking people up because they disagree with him.”
The president should be “able to deal with criticism without saying he would lock people up for it,” she added.
That conversation followed another combative moment when Baier asked Harris if she thinks Trump’s supporters are “stupid.”
Harris seemed visibly offended by the suggestion.
“I would never say that about the American people,” she replied.
