Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz participated in a prominent interview with “60 Minutes” ahead of Election Day, where they discussed their economic strategies, foreign policy, and political challenges.
During the broadcast, which aired on Monday, Harris faced persistent inquiries regarding funding for a childcare tax credit and support for first-time homebuyers amid post-pandemic inflation. She emphasized her plan to collaborate with Congress to increase taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses.
In her remarks, Harris highlighted that many congressional members understand the importance of these issues, noting that their constituents—such as firefighters and teachers—are affected by them.
This interview was particularly significant for Harris, who has been criticized for fewer media appearances compared to her opponent, former President Donald Trump, especially as the campaign heats up.
As part of her media outreach this week, Harris is set to appear on various platforms, including a Univision town hall and Sirius XM’s Howard Stern show. The “60 Minutes” special continues a longstanding CBS tradition of featuring the Democratic and Republican tickets before the election.
Trump had initially agreed to the interview but later withdrew for reasons that remain unclear. Correspondent Scott Pelley mentioned this during the program, pointing out that Trump has criticized Harris’s interview participation and previously declined to debate her.
On the topic of the Ukraine war, Harris stated that she would only meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss an end to the conflict alongside the Ukrainian government.
She indicated that the U.S. supports Ukraine’s defense capabilities but refrained from addressing NATO’s potential expansion to include Ukraine until the situation necessitates it.
In contrast to Trump’s previous statements—where he has expressed a more favorable view of Putin—Harris asserted that if Trump were still in office, Putin would likely have more influence over Ukraine.
In a separate segment, Walz was questioned about previous inaccuracies he has made, such as incorrectly claiming he was in China during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and misrepresenting his military retirement rank. He jokingly remarked that Harris advised him to be more cautious with his words, reiterating that any misleading statements stem from unintentional mistakes rather than deceitful intent. He argued that voters can distinguish between someone who might misstate facts in an emotional context and someone who lies consistently, referring to Trump.
