In a candid discussion, the Vice President tackles criticism, engages black male voters, and warns against a return to Trump’s presidency
Vice President Kamala Harris recently addressed concerns about her “scripted” speaking style during a candid interview with radio host Charlamagne Tha God in Detroit on October 15, 2024. Responding to criticism, Harris described her disciplined approach as a way to clearly communicate her values and the policies she champions.
“This would be called discipline,” Harris asserted, emphasising that certain messages must be reiterated to ensure clarity on her positions. As she campaigns in Michigan, a state pivotal for Black male voter turnout, Harris pushed back against claims of being disconnected from the community, forcefully countering suggestions that her political identity is at odds with her roots.
Throughout the interview, Harris drew stark contrasts between her vision for America and that of her rival, former President Donald Trump. Aligning with Charlamagne’s suggestion that Trump’s campaign embodies “fascism,” she affirmed, “Yes, we can say that.” Harris warned that a second Trump presidency would represent a significant regression for the nation.
Embed from Getty Images“By voting in this election, you have two choices, or you don’t vote, but you have two choices if you do, and it’s two very different visions for our nation,” Harris explained, reiterating her belief that Trump’s campaign is predicated on fear rather than hope and optimism.
In the hour-long town hall-style interview, Harris described the upcoming election as a “margin-of-error race,” laying out new initiatives aimed at attracting Black male voters. She discussed her economic proposals, health care initiatives, and her commitment to advancing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has faced obstacles in Congress.
Harris defended her tenure as San Francisco district attorney, characterising herself as a “progressive prosecutor” particularly in cases involving marijuana. She pledged to push for federal decriminalisation if she were to win the presidency. Responding to queries about her engagement with the Black community, Harris drew upon her personal experiences, asserting that any allegations of her disconnect from the community are unfounded and a product of misinformation from the “Trump team.”
“They are full of mis- and disinformation, because they are trying to disconnect me from the people I have worked with and that I am from,” she stated, proudly reflecting on her heritage as the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India.
Harris did not shy away from critiquing Trump’s recent remarks, particularly his inflammatory claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, which led to community backlash and the cancellation of a cultural celebration. She described these remarks as fear-mongering tactics designed to distract from Trump’s inability to resolve pressing issues like immigration.
“The hypocrisy of it abounds because on the issue of immigration, let’s be clear, some of the most conservative members of the United States Congress came up with a border security bill, which was the strongest, toughest border security bill in a long, long time,” she explained. “He prefers to run on a problem instead of fix a problem. And we got to call it out and see it for what it is.”
Following the interview, Harris engaged with supporters at a watch party at CRED Café, a venue owned by former NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford. She encouraged attendees to participate in early voting, which begins in Michigan in just a few days, asserting, “Detroit is going to help deliver Michigan.”
Earlier in her day, she visited the Black-owned Norwest Art Gallery, joining actors Don Cheadle, Delroy Lindo, and Detroit native Cornelius Smith Jr. for a discussion focused on entrepreneurship among Black men, further cementing her commitment to fostering economic empowerment within the community.
