Trump Hits Kamala Over Border Stance Reversal
As Vice President Kamala Harris gears up for a potential face-off with former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election, her recent stance on border security seems to be shifting. In a surprising move aimed at broadening her appeal, Harris has expressed support for a border security bill that includes provisions for wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border.
At last week’s Democratic National Convention, Harris indicated her willingness to endorse a Senate-negotiated bill that, while overall valued at $118 billion, allocates $20 billion specifically for border security measures. This proposal marks a significant pivot in her policy stance.
Critics, however, are questioning the sincerity of Harris’s newfound position. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s national press secretary, highlighted the contradiction between Harris’s current rhetoric and her past actions. Leavitt accused Harris of hiding behind anonymous sources and using staff to obscure her true position. “It’s DAY Thirty-Seven of ZERO interviews, and Kamala’s shady campaign sources are now claiming she supports President Trump’s border wall — this is a preposterous and false claim,” Leavitt stated. She pointed out that Harris has previously labeled the wall as “un-American,” a “waste of taxpayer money,” and “medieval,” and suggested that it wouldn’t effectively curb illegal immigration.
Leavitt reminded voters that during her tenure as a senator, Harris actively opposed Trump’s border wall initiative. As the Border Czar, she also played a role in halting the wall’s construction. “Kamala’s ACTIONS speak much louder than the WORDS of the anonymous staff she is cowering behind,” Leavitt added.
Harris’s shift on the border wall issue aligns with a broader trend of her altering positions on various policies, including Medicare and fracking, in an apparent bid to appeal to moderate and independent voters.
The $118 billion bill, crafted after extensive negotiations between Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, and Kyrsten Sinema, along with the White House, also includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. While the bill stipulates that a portion of the funds will be used for the border wall, Lankford clarified that it adheres to the standards set during the Trump administration regarding the wall’s specifications.
Lankford’s office noted that the bill would allocate $650 million for the wall, a significant reduction from the $18 billion initially requested by Trump in 2018. Harris’s team has countered that the bill does not include new funding for the wall but extends the timeline for utilizing funds appropriated during Trump’s presidency.
