A top CNN reporter has broken away from the network to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for her flip-flop on her stance regarding the border wall.
Andy Kaczynski, known for his KFile investigative reporting, took to social media to highlight the inconsistency in Harris’ position on the controversial Trump-era wall. In a tweet posted on Wednesday, Kaczynski pointed out how Harris, who once vehemently opposed the border wall, is now promoting it as part of her tough-on-border policies in a new ad.
“Harris called Trump’s border wall ‘a monument standing in opposition to not just everything I value, but to the fundamental values upon which this country was built’ in 2019. Now, she’s using Trump’s wall in an ad to say she’s tough on the border,” Kaczynski wrote.
NEW: Harris called Trump’s border wall “a monument standing in opposition to not just everything I value, but to the fundamental values upon which this country was built” in 2019.
Now, she’s using Trump’s wall in an ad to say she’s tough on the border.https://t.co/TKwfcrCysQ
— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) September 4, 2024
Harris has long positioned herself as a progressive voice on immigration, particularly during the Trump presidency. In her 2019 book, The Truths We Hold, Harris described the wall as “useless” and “a medieval vanity project.” She was one of the most vocal critics of the wall, calling it an affront to the country’s values on multiple occasions. Her new stance, which seems to embrace the same policies she once opposed, has raised eyebrows and invited criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
Donald Trump launched his campaign with hateful attacks against immigrants. Then he:
Enacted the Muslim ban.
Demanded funding for a wasteful border wall.
Separated children from their parents at the border.This is who he is. He must be voted out.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 23, 2020
Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda couldn’t be more clear.
He has separated families.
Locked children in cages.
Attempted to end protections for Dreamers.
Tried to spend billions on a wasteful border wall.These disastrous and cruel policies must come to an end.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 12, 2019
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Harris’ latest campaign ad prominently features the border wall, with the vice president touting her record as a former prosecutor in a border state and her commitment to border security. The ad also references a Senate bill she supported that aimed to increase border security and expand the wall’s construction. This bill, although it failed to pass the Senate earlier this year, allocated $650 million for new wall construction. Images of the Trump-era wall, which Harris once derided, appear in the ad as symbols of her strength on border issues.
Critics have been quick to point out the contradictions in Harris’ position. The vice president has historically been a staunch opponent of stringent immigration policies, including the construction of the border wall and restrictions on asylum seekers. During the Trump administration, Harris was among a group of senators who challenged a rule that effectively barred asylum claims outside official ports of entry. In 2019, she pledged that under a Harris administration, asylum procedures would be respected, and migrants would not face unjust restrictions.
However, as the 2024 election approaches, Harris appears to be shifting toward a more centrist stance on immigration. The CNN KFile review, conducted by Kaczynski and his team, noted that Harris has not only supported expanding the border wall but also backed policies that would limit migrants’ ability to seek asylum if they cross the border illegally. This marks a sharp departure from her previous positions, where she championed the rights of asylum seekers and criticized policies that she claimed undermined America’s moral conscience.
Harris’ move to the middle on immigration has led to speculation that she is attempting to appeal to a broader base of voters, particularly those concerned with border security. Immigration remains a significant vulnerability for Harris and the Democrat Party, with polls indicating that voters are increasingly focused on border issues. By adopting a tougher stance, Harris may be hoping to neutralize one of her biggest weaknesses as she campaigns for the presidency.
Despite the policy shift, Harris has maintained that her values have not changed. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Harris defended her evolving positions, stating that while some policies have changed, her core beliefs remain the same. “My values have not changed.”
Harris’ campaign team has pushed back against claims of inconsistency, arguing that the vice president has always supported balanced immigration policies that secure the border while ensuring fairness for migrants. In response to Kaczynski’s revelations, a Harris aide dismissed the suggestion that a few images in an ad represent a shift in policy, claiming that Harris continues to support a bipartisan approach to border security.
