Harris shares a beer with Stephen Colbert and takes aim at Trump: Five key points
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris opened a Miller High Life beer while chatting with Stephen Colbert and took jabs at her rival, former President Donald Trump, discussing his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the 2020 election results, among other topics.
This interview is part of Harris’s media outreach this week as she aims to connect with potential voters, given that Election Day is just around the corner. She has made appearances on ABC’s “The View,” CBS’s “60 Minutes,” and SiriusXM’s “The Howard Stern Show.”
Since entering the race in late July, Harris described her journey as a “whirlwind” during her chat with Colbert.
“There’s a lot to catch up on. My opponent, the former president, has been campaigning since 2020. People are simply worn out from Donald Trump’s stale tactics,” she explained.
She added, “People are ready for a change.”
Here are five highlights from her interview:
Harris discusses the presidential debate
Harris and Trump recently faced off in Philadelphia for their first presidential debate, where they clashed on topics like abortion and immigration.
A particular moment from the debate went viral, showcasing Harris resting her chin on her hand with a displeased look while Trump criticized her on stage.
Colbert asked, “What were you thinking at that moment? And remember, this is CBS, so keep it clean.”
Harris chuckled and replied, “It’s family TV, right? A word starts with W, has a letter between it, and ends with F.”
Harris labels Trump a ‘loser’ after 2020 election
Colbert asked Harris about a question many Republicans shy away from: “Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?”
Harris recounted messages from attendees at her rallies.
“From what I hear at my rallies—where many people show up, by the way—when you lose millions of jobs, manufacturing, automotive plants, and the election, what does that make you? A loser,” Harris stated.
She laughed, adding, “Someone at my rally said that, and I found it amusing.”
Harris joked, “This is what happens when I drink beer!”
Harris criticizes Trump for his ties to Putin
During the discussion, Colbert highlighted a recent finding from journalist Bob Woodward’s book, revealing that Trump had multiple phone calls with Putin after leaving office in 2021.
“Donald Trump admires dictators and authoritarian leaders. He has even said he would like to act like a dictator if he returned to power,” Harris remarked.
“He gets manipulated by these leaders because they flatter him or provide him perks,” she continued.
Woodward’s book also mentions that Trump supplied COVID-19 testing machines to Putin during a critical period when testing was scarce.
“I want everyone to remember what those days were like when many people struggled to access tests,” Harris expressed with frustration during the interview.
She asserted that the American populace should be a leader’s primary concern.
Harris addresses disinformation in aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Harris cautioned viewers regarding misinformation surrounding the federal response to Hurricane Helene, urging them to avoid it. “Please do not fall for this misinformation,” she implored.
Her comments followed Trump’s unfounded claims about hurricane relief, including assertions of insufficient rescue efforts in North Carolina and misleading statements regarding the limited aid provided by the federal government.
“It deeply troubles me when politicians play games with people who are suffering, using lies for political gain and undermining the trust in available help,” she criticized.
Harris pointed out that she has been in contact with governors from both parties who are committed to assisting affected individuals.
Harris pushes for ceasefire and hostage negotiations
In the interview, Harris emphasized the necessity of an immediate hostage deal and ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
“This war cannot continue. We must hold onto hope for a resolution, rather than surrendering to despair and inaction,” she remarked.
Colbert noted that discussions for a ceasefire had seemed close at various points, and inquired about her thoughts on the matter.
Understanding what “close” refers to.
“Close indicates that many aspects have been addressed, yet some details are still pending. While progress has been made, it holds no value if an agreement isn’t finalized. So, I don’t want to imply that we should be commended for merely nearing a deal at times,” she explained.