Vice President Kamala Harris Struggles to Address Border Wall Concerns and Critiques Trump During High-Stakes CNN Town Hall in Delaware County

Vice President Kamala Harris Struggles to Address Border Wall Concerns and Critiques Trump During High-Stakes CNN Town Hall in Delaware County

During a recent CNN town hall, Kamala Harris faced some tough questions just weeks before the upcoming election.

The atmosphere was charged, especially when she labeled Donald Trump a “fascist.”

However, she appeared to struggle when pressed about her stance on the border wall, creating a somewhat awkward moment for the Vice President.

Mixed Reactions from Political Analysts

Harris’s performance received immediate criticism from Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who remarked that she went into “word salad city” on several questions.

This feedback came as she spoke to undecided voters in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where new polling data showed Trump gaining a slight edge over her nationally.

Addressing Trump’s Fascist Claims

Anderson Cooper initiated the discussion by asking Harris if she agreed with Trump’s former Chief of Staff, John Kelly, who recently suggested that Trump wished to lead as a fascist.

Harris responded emphatically, saying, “Yes, I do. And I also believe that the people who know him best on this subject should be trusted.”

Evasive on the Border Wall

However, when Cooper inquired if she supported “building some wall,” Harris took a more evasive approach.

She expressed her desire to “strengthen our border” but did not directly endorse the funding for a border wall, despite previously calling it “stupid” and a “medieval vanity project.”

The conversation about immigration started with a question from an undecided college student who asked about government benefits for migrants.

Harris initially criticized Trump for obstructing a bipartisan immigration bill that she claimed would provide a long-term solution.

Clarifying the Compromise Bill

Cooper reminded her that the compromise bill included funding for the border wall and pointed out her earlier criticism.

Harris laughed as she recounted how Trump claimed Mexico would pay for the wall, emphasizing that only a small portion had actually been built.

“Come on, they didn’t,” she said, highlighting the minimal progress under Trump’s administration.

Challenges with Clear Messaging

Despite being pressed about whether she thought the wall was “stupid” now, Harris sidestepped a direct answer, reiterating her disapproval of Trump’s approach to the issue.

“I think what he did and how he did it didn’t make much sense because he didn’t do much of anything,” she noted, avoiding a clear endorsement of wall funding.

A Sensitive Question on Palestinian Lives

When a female student asked how she would ensure “not another Palestinian dies due to bombs funded by U.S. tax dollars,” Harris acknowledged the tragic loss of innocent Palestinian lives.

This prompted Cooper to ask what she would say to voters considering third-party options or abstaining from voting due to the Gaza conflict.

Balancing Emotions and Practical Solutions

Harris recognized the strong emotions surrounding the situation, noting that many people are affected by the conflict.

She asserted that while voters care about global issues, they also want to address everyday concerns like rising grocery prices and the importance of democracy.

“They want a president who cares about fundamental freedom,” she added, highlighting the need for practical solutions.

Criticism Over Trump Comparisons

Throughout the town hall, Harris frequently referenced Trump in her responses.

When a woman asked about rising anti-Semitism, Harris recalled Kelly’s remarks regarding Trump’s comments about his generals.

However, when Cooper pressed her about whether Trump, who has Jewish grandchildren, was anti-Semitic, she chose to label him as a danger to America instead.

The Fallout from Her Answers

Axelrod expressed frustration over Harris’s evasiveness, particularly regarding her response about Israel.

He felt that her lengthy answer didn’t address Cooper’s direct question about whether she would be stronger on Israel than Trump.

“When she doesn’t want to answer a question, she tends to go to word salad city,” he noted.

Despite the criticism of Harris’s performance, Axelrod pointed out that this doesn’t necessarily mean Trump’s rhetoric is better.

“Have you listened to his rallies? They’re incomprehensible,” he remarked.

Final Thoughts from CNN Analysts

CNN’s Van Jones echoed Axelrod’s sentiments, stating that the “word salad” aspect of Harris’s responses was frustrating and that some evasions felt unnecessary.

Dana Bash also commented that if Harris aimed to win over undecided voters, it was unclear if she succeeded.

After the town hall, five audience members told CNN’s John King that they were not planning to vote for Trump and were open to Harris.

However, only two committed to voting for her, indicating the challenges she faces in securing undecided voters.

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