Vice President Kamala Harris once again refrained from addressing questions from the press following her remarks alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Thursday.
Since entering the presidential race in July, Harris has not held any press conferences and has participated in only five television interviews. These interviews have drawn criticism for her tendency to evade questions and her inability to propose solutions to the persistent issues facing the Biden-Harris administration. Thursday’s event followed this pattern, as Harris left the podium without taking questions and escorted Zelensky out of the room.
Her evasive tactics indicate that her record may pose a political risk. Harris finds herself in a difficult position: she cannot advocate for policies aimed at addressing crime, inflation, and border security without contradicting the existing policies of the Biden-Harris administration. However, she must also promote these policies to support her own record and candidacy.
President Joe Biden remarked on Wednesday that he has entrusted Harris with “everything” as commander in chief, encompassing both foreign and domestic policy. During her remarks with Zelensky, Harris reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to assisting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, which has consistently asserted that any NATO expansion into Ukraine would be unacceptable. In contrast, former President Donald Trump has pledged to end the war if he is reelected, while the Biden-Harris administration has committed to integrating Ukraine into NATO.
Harris told reporters at the White House that “the United States supports Ukraine, not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interest … My support to the people of Ukraine is unwavering.”
“I’ve been proud to stand with Ukraine – I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war, to be safe, secure and prosperous,” Harris continued. “The United States must continue to fulfill our long-standing role of global leadership— we must stand with our allies and our partners, we must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors, and we must stand for international order, rules, and norms.”
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