Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris is prepared to challenge Donald Trump during their upcoming debate next month. Critics have pointed out that Harris took over a month to give a formal interview after becoming the Democratic nominee, and that she will be joined by Walz during her campaign stops.
Speaking at the International Association of Fire Fighters union’s convention in Boston, Walz expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to hold Trump accountable on the debate stage. He said, “Kamala Harris is ready to hold him accountable. It’s going to be good, and it will impact your lives in many ways, like your retirement, your children’s education, and infrastructure.”
The debate between Harris and Trump is scheduled for September 10, on a Tuesday night, despite some disagreements over whether the candidates’ microphones should be muted when it’s not their turn to speak. Harris’s team initially wanted the microphones unmuted, but they have since dropped that request.
Governor Walz previewed some of the arguments Harris might make, saying that Trump and his party no longer represent true freedom and that they want the government to control many aspects of people’s lives, including union halls, schools, and even doctor’s offices.
Harris and Walz will give their first interview as a team to CNN’s Dana Bash on Thursday. Some Republican commentators criticized the joint interview, suggesting it shows that Harris is not confident enough to face questions on her own.
Harris, who has been Vice President for over three years, has a history of delivering strong debate performances, especially during the 2020 presidential primary. Trump is expected to criticize Harris for her role in addressing illegal immigration, which has reached record highs during her tenure. Harris may also face questions about her past support for single-payer health care, decriminalizing illegal border crossings, and banning fracking, as well as her recent proposals to control grocery prices, which she has since revised after receiving criticism.
