Former President Donald Trump took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, mocking her for allegedly changing her far-left policy positions to win the upcoming election.
Trump’s remarks came after Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, commented on Harris’s policy shifts during a Sunday interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Trump posted on his Truth Social account, “Bernie Sanders just said that Kamala only changed her Marxist policy positions for the Election — She’ll change back very quickly!” His comments were in response to Sanders, who had been asked whether Harris was abandoning her progressive ideals to appeal to a broader electorate.
During the interview, NBC anchor Kristen Welker questioned Sanders about Harris’s departure from earlier progressive positions, including her previous support for a ban on fracking and her endorsement of “Medicare-for-all.”
“Do you think she is abandoning her progressive ideals?” Welker asked Sanders.
“No, I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals,” Sanders responded. “I think she’s trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election.”
While Sanders defended Harris’s political strategy as pragmatic, Trump used Sanders’ comments to criticize Harris, accusing her of being insincere about her policy changes.
In another Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Bernie Sanders really threw Comrade Kamala Harris under the proverbial ‘BUS.’ Essentially said, very clearly, that she is a total phony. Once a Marxist, always a Marxist!”
Harris’s campaign had previously indicated that her current approach is designed to bring together different viewpoints.
Mia Ehrenberg, a campaign spokesperson, explained the Vice President’s strategy, stating, “While Donald Trump is wedded to the extreme ideas in his Project 2025 agenda, Vice President Harris believes real leadership means bringing all sides together to build consensus.” Ehrenberg further noted that Harris’s pragmatic stance has allowed the Biden-Harris administration to achieve bipartisan progress on key issues, such as infrastructure and gun violence prevention.
NEW: The Harris campaign confirms to @FoxNews [1] that Harris has reversed several of her prior positions on immigration, including decriminalizing illegal crossings, a pledge to close ICE detention centers, and the idea that ICE should be abolished or “started from scratch”.
Re:…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 29, 2024 [2]
“Re: decriminalizing illegal crossings: A Harris campaign official tells FOX VP Harris’ position is that “unauthorized border crossings are illegal.”
Re: Abolishing or starting ICE from scratch:
A Harris campaign official tells FOX her position aligns with the Biden administration’s and what’s in the bipartisan border bill, including increased funding for ICE & border security.
Re: Closing ICE detention centers: A Harris campaign official tells FOX Harris’ position is the same as the Biden admin’s, which is:
“…continuing to ensure sufficient resources to enforce our laws and prioritize detention and removal for individuals who pose threats to public safety and national security, as well as ensure compliance with immigration proceedings and decisions, including removal.”
The Harris campaign tells FOX Harris’ positions changed as a result of her time in the White House as Vice President.
Harris campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg tells FOX:
“While Donald Trump is wedded to the extreme ideas in his Project 2025 agenda, Vice President Harris believes real leadership means bringing all sides together to build consensus. It is that approach that made it possible for the Biden-Harris administration to achieve bipartisan breakthroughs on everything from infrastructure to gun violence prevention. As President, she will take that same pragmatic approach, focusing on common-sense solutions for the sake of progress.”
Harris campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz also provided FOX the following statement regarding immigration policy:
“The only ‘plan’ Donald Trump has to secure our border is ripping mothers from their children and a few xenophobic placards at the Republican National Convention. He tanked the bipartisan border security deal because for Donald Trump, this has never been about solutions just running on a problem. Like everything with Donald Trump, it’s never been about helping the country, it’s only about helping himself. There’s only one candidate in this race who will fight for bipartisan solutions to strengthen border security, and that’s Vice President Harris.”” – Bill Melugin
Trump’s 2024 National Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, echoed the former president’s criticism, arguing that Harris is trying to conceal her true political beliefs. “Senator Sanders is saying what the Harris campaign doesn’t want the American people to know. And that is, Kamala Harris is a typical career politician who lies to get elected,” Leavitt told Fox News. “She’s trying to run away from her record over the past four years but she can’t, because it is the Harris-Biden administration.”
Leavitt also pointed to Tuesday night’s ABC News Presidential Debate, where Trump is expected to hold Harris accountable for what his campaign describes as the failures of the Harris-Biden administration on key issues such as immigration, inflation, and crime.
The Trump campaign has signaled that they plan to focus heavily on Harris’s record during the debate.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the clash between Trump and Harris is expected to intensify, with both sides looking to position themselves as the best choice for America’s future.
The Sanders interview, and Trump’s subsequent response, have highlighted the ongoing debate over Harris’s policy shifts and whether they reflect pragmatism or political expediency.
Original article below:
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, recently spoke [4] on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” addressing Kamala Harris’ apparent shift on several progressive policies as the November election approaches.
Despite changes in Harris’ stance on issues like Medicare-For-All and fracking, Sanders defended her, suggesting that she is being pragmatic in her campaign strategy.
When NBC anchor Kristen Welker asked if Harris was abandoning her progressive ideals, Sanders replied, “No, I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals. I think she’s trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election.”
Harris, who has been distancing herself from more far-left policies since becoming the Democratic nominee, has faced scrutiny for her evolving positions on immigration, energy, and healthcare.
However, during a CNN interview with Dana Bash in August, Harris insisted that her values remain consistent. “I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” Harris stated.
COMRADE KAMALA: “MY VALUES HAVE NOT CHANGED.” pic.twitter.com/JjY3kUJyH4 [5]
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2024 [6]
She emphasized her ongoing commitment to addressing the climate crisis and border security based on her prior experience as California’s attorney general.
Sanders, who has long been a champion of progressive causes like universal healthcare and environmental activism, acknowledged slight differences in perspective between himself and Harris but still considers her a progressive ally with similar goals.
X users were quick to call the comments out. Many saying that Kamala will say anything to get elected whether she belives it or not.
This might be the most damaging clip of the election for Kamala
Bernie Sanders says she is NOT abandoning her Socialist ideals
“No I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals. I think she’s… doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election” pic.twitter.com/EYpRfkLHkF [7]
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) September 8, 2024 [8]
Bernie Sanders just gave away the game:
Kamala is telling whatever lies she needs to tell to win the election.pic.twitter.com/inUIigMsdO [9]
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) September 8, 2024 [10]
🚨🚨🚨🚨
Q: “Do you think Kamala is abandoning her progressive ideals?”
BERNIE: “I think she is trying to be pragmatic and do what she thinks is right in order to win the election.”
There it is…
pic.twitter.com/u5IqMcnkbr [11]— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 8, 2024 [12]
This video needs to be everywhere
Bernie Sanders is confirming that Kamala is doing whatever it takes to win the election
Then she’ll enact Marxist policies
They’re openly telling us their plans
pic.twitter.com/C2SfpD2yBZ [13]
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 8, 2024 [14]
Meet The Press’s Welker: “Do you think Kamala is abandoning her progressive ideals?”
Bernie Sanders: “I think she is trying to be pragmatic and do what she thinks is right in order to win the election.”
Bottom line: Kamala is a fraud. pic.twitter.com/QjUNgRFcRe [15]
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) September 8, 2024 [16]
“She has to do this to win”
Bernie Sanders admits that Kamala is hiding her Marxist ideology to win the election:
pic.twitter.com/yfpn12DzJx [17]
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 8, 2024 [18]
BREAKING: Even Bernie Sanders knows Kamala Harris is a fraud
He should know
He has had the nomination stolen from him too
Not just once, but twice
pic.twitter.com/GAdp1n6lFf [19]
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) September 8, 2024 [20]
Bernie Sanders literally just outed Kamala Harris.
He says she’s only moderating her positions long enough to win the election.
It’s all out Marxism after that! pic.twitter.com/Pz1wq5lPku [21]
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) September 8, 2024 [22]