Vice President Kamala Harris discussed her economic plan’s benefits over former President Donald Trump’s during an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. In her first such interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris emphasized the importance of a plan that strengthens small businesses and supports young parents, which she believes are critical to America’s economy.
Harris highlighted that analysts, including 16 Nobel laureates, Goldman Sachs, Moody’s, and The Wall Street Journal, have reviewed her economic strategies and concluded that they would bolster the economy. According to Harris, Trump’s approach would weaken the economy, lead to higher inflation, and potentially trigger a recession by mid-next year.
The Penn Wharton Budget Model’s nonpartisan analysis indicated that Harris’ plan could increase the deficit by approximately $1.2 trillion and reduce GDP by about 1.3% over the next decade. By 2054, her plan might decrease economic growth by roughly 3%. Meanwhile, Trump’s spending plan is expected to amplify the national deficit by $4.1 trillion over ten years, initially boost GDP, but eventually hinder economic growth, with potential reductions of 0.4% by 2034 and 2.1% by 2054.
A recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos showed Harris holding a narrow lead over Trump in a national 45%-42% match-up. However, Trump had a stronger standing on the economy, with 45% support compared to Harris’ 40%.
Harris expressed confidence that Americans desire a new direction in leadership, free from the divisive rhetoric associated with Trump’s tenure. She reiterated her belief that her economic plan is sound and would guide the country forward, contrasting it with Trump’s approach that she argues would disproportionately benefit billionaires and large corporations while increasing the deficit.
When questioned about the electorate’s trust in Trump, Harris responded that the presidential race is inherently challenging. Following the interview, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Harris, asserting that she struggled to answer questions directly and called her campaign’s foundation falsehoods about Trump. Leavitt claimed Harris was unprepared for the pressures of both the interview and the presidency.
This report includes contributions from FOX Business’ Megan Henney and Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom.