Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t seem to have an answer to questions about a possible visit to the US-Mexico border — and critics are wondering why.
Harris’ first international trip as VP to Guatemala and Mexico came with criticism for telling migrants “do not come” to the US.
But a CNN panel Sunday focused on some awkward exchanges with members of the press when asked about if she planned to visit the border.
“It’s just a little cringeworthy,” host Abby Phillip said on “Inside Politics Sunday.”
“And I know that her allies in the White House and elsewhere are watching it and just kind of wondering, ‘What is going on?’”
The panel was reacting to two specific clips, the first of which was an attention-grabbing interview when NBC’s Lester Holt noted she hadn’t been to the border.
CNN’s Abby Phillip on Kamala Harris’ first foreign trip: “Cringeworthy,” Harris allies are “wondering what is going on?” pic.twitter.com/vkfotrzN0r
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 13, 2021
“And I haven’t been to Europe,” she said, then laughed.
“I mean, I don’t understand the point that you’re making. I’m not discounting the importance of the border.”
Harris — the Biden administration’s point person on the border issue — was also asked about a visit amid the migrant crisis during a Univision interview Thursday. The VP responded she was going before reporter Ilia Calderón jumped in and asked for specifics.
“When are you going to the border, Vice President?” Calderón asked.
“I’m not finished,” Harris replied before adding that the administration was focusing on root causes of the problem.
On the Sunday panel, Olivier Knox of the Washington Post said there’s an argument about whether a visit would have had any “meaningful policy purpose” — but either way, Harris should’ve known the questions were coming.
“To be clear, she was going to be asked this question and the fact that they didn’t have something better than ‘I haven’t been to Europe’ is fairly notable,” Knox said.
“Republicans have been pounding away at this issue for weeks and for months.”
Panelist Laura Barron-Lopez said the trip “certainly didn’t go the way the White House wanted it to” but added she didn’t believe it would have long-term effects if Harris seeks election in 2024 or 2028.
This is an excerpt from the New York Post.
