WASHINGTON — In a challenging interview on Fox News, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that her presidency, if elected, “will not continue Joe Biden’s legacy,” as she seeks to connect with Republican voters.

With the election looming just 20 days away, Harris defended her administration’s immigration and economic records during her first formal appearance on the conservative network. Throughout the nearly 30-minute segment, host Bret Baier and Harris frequently spoke over each other, resulting in a contentious dialogue.

Harris had been speaking at a rally in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, earlier that day, where she was joined by over 100 Republicans who support her campaign, before moving to Bucks County for the interview.

Here are five notable moments from her discussion:

Intense debate on border immigration issues

From the outset, Harris and Baier exchanged heated remarks when Baier inquired about the number of undocumented immigrants who have entered the U.S. since Biden and Harris took office. Harris did not provide a specific figure.

“Just give me a number: Is it 1 million or 3 million?” Baier pressed.

Harris replied, “Bret, let’s get straight to the matter. The issue is that we have an immigration system that is fundamentally flawed and needs improvement.”

Baier interjected, suggesting that estimates indicate up to 6 million undocumented immigrants have been permitted into the country.

“I was just beginning to answer,” Harris retorted, as Baier interrupted her, referencing Biden’s early executive actions that overturned many of Trump’s immigration policies.

The situation at the southern border, where Harris had campaigned last month in Arizona, is a significant challenge for her candidacy. When Baier showcased a video of a grieving mother talking about her daughter, who died due to an undocumented immigrant released in the U.S., Harris expressed, “I’m very sorry for her loss.”

Harris stated, “Our priority has been to address the issue,” emphasizing that Senate Republicans, under Trump’s influence, halted a bipartisan border bill this year that aimed to tighten asylum procedures and add more Border Patrol agents.

“Let me finish, please,” Harris told Baier. “Donald Trump got wind of that bill and instructed his party to block it because he wanted to campaign on a problem rather than solve it.”

Harris revises her immigration views

Harris indicated that she is no longer in favor of some progressive immigration measures she previously supported during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, such as allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and access taxpayer-funded healthcare.

“That was five years ago, and I’m clear that I will adhere to the law,” Harris stated in response to Baier’s question regarding her support for such policies.

She also disclosed that she does not support decriminalizing illegal border crossings, a stance she took during her 2019 campaign before withdrawing from the primaries.

“I do not favor decriminalizing border crossings, and I have not done so as vice president. I will not adopt that stance as president,” Harris affirmed.

Support for transgender surgeries for incarcerated individuals

When Baier questioned her regarding her previous support for transgender individuals in prison accessing gender-affirming surgeries, Harris said she would conform to legal standards.

“I will abide by the law, and it’s a law that Donald Trump also respected,” Harris noted.

Harris referred to a report from the New York Times that highlighted how Trump’s appointees at the Bureau of Prisons provided various gender-affirming treatments, including hormone therapy, for inmates who requested them. Bureau officials mentioned in a 2018 congressional memo that they were required by federal law to cover surgeries deemed medically necessary.

The Trump campaign ad concludes with the statement: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

“That ad from the Trump campaign feels somewhat hypocritical coming from someone with a questionable past,” Harris remarked.

The Trump campaign, responding to the New York Times piece, claimed that the former president never supported such surgeries.

“Well, you have to be accountable for the actions taken during your administration,” Harris added.

Diverging from Biden

Harris made a strong statement distancing herself from Biden during her 2024 campaign, emphasizing that if she were to be elected, her presidency would not continue Biden’s policies.

During a recent interview, clips were shown of Harris on “The View” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where she notably avoided giving clear answers about how her administration would differ from Biden’s four-year term.

“I want to be very clear: My presidency will not be a mere extension of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris stated in her discussion with Baier. “Just like all new presidents, I will bring my own life lessons, professional background, and innovative ideas.”

Harris asserted that she represents a “new generation of leadership” and pointed out that her professional experience has not predominantly been in Washington. She expressed her openness to ideas from both Republicans and the business world, highlighting her distinct campaign proposals compared to those of Biden, including plans to enhance affordable housing, provide tax relief for small businesses, and offer $25,000 in down-payment support for first-time home buyers.

Defending her campaign slogan — “turning the page” — Harris responded to Baier, who questioned the appropriateness of that message coming from a sitting vice president.

With Baier referencing polls indicating that 79% of the public thinks the nation is headed in the wrong direction, he queried, “Why do you think that is? If you’re aiming to turn the page, you’ve been in office for three and a half years.”

In response, Harris pointed out that Trump has been campaigning for a decade. “Come on, we both understand what I’m getting at.”

“Actually, I’m not following your line of thought,” Baier replied.

Harris argued that the public is “exhausted” by a leader who focuses on petty grievances instead of addressing the nation’s needs.

Harris, when questioned about Biden’s capacity, redirects to Trump

In a defense of Biden on Wednesday, she emphasized his “judgment and experience” for presidential responsibilities when Baier pressed her: “When did you start noticing a decline in President Biden’s mental faculties?”

“Joe Biden is not the candidate; Donald Trump is,” Harris emphasized.

The 81-year-old Biden decided to withdraw from the 2024 race in July following a poor debate result against Trump that raised worries about his age and mental capability.

Baier probed further, “You’ve interacted with him weekly for three and a half years. Did you never have any concerns?”

However, Harris circled back to criticisms of Trump. She has increasingly depicted him as unfit, unstable, and a threat. The Harris campaign is making note of Trump’s failure to share his medical history and his avoidance of debating her a second time.

During a particularly passionate segment of the interview, she rebuked Trump for his ongoing threats to persecute those he perceives as “enemies within.”

“He has mentioned locking people up for simply disagreeing with him,” Harris stated. “In a democracy, a President must be able to accept criticism without resorting to threats of imprisoning critics.”

The Trump campaign quickly condemned Harris’ interview on Fox News, arguing she “couldn’t provide a straightforward answer to anything because she lacks solutions.”

“Kamala Harris’ interview with Bret Baier was a DISASTER,” stated Karoline Leavitt, the Trump’s campaign national press secretary.

However, Brian Fallon, the Harris campaign’s communications director, stated that the campaign achieved its goal.

“She managed to connect with an audience that may not have heard her viewpoints and showcased her strength in dealing with an aggressive interviewer,” Fallon remarked.