Donald Trump's Latest Kamala Harris Attack Ad—Fact Checked

Kamala Harris is currently under scrutiny from Donald Trump and the Republican campaign apparatus, which have launched new attack ads targeting her as a "radical" based on her voting record and policy positions. As Harris positions herself as the leading Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election, she has garnered endorsements from prominent figures including President Joe Biden, the Clintons, and the Obamas.

The latest ads from Trump's campaign focus on Harris' supposed "radical" stances on several issues, including criminal justice reform, immigration, policing, and the economy. Newsweek has analyzed these criticisms for accuracy.

"My pronouns are she and her"

The ad opens with a clip of Harris stating her pronouns as "she" and "her." This footage, originally from a 2022 event where attendees were asked to share their pronouns, is presented without context, making it seem like Harris introduced this information spontaneously. The clip is actually from a White House meeting with disability advocates, part of an initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion for the visually impaired. Harris's mention of her pronouns was in line with the event's goals, contrary to suggestions that it was an unsolicited declaration.

"The most liberal senator"

Another segment features Harris being labeled as "the most liberal senator" based on a 2019 GovTrack rating. The ad uses a clip from a 2020 *60 Minutes* interview with Norah O'Donnell, edited to show Harris reacting with frustration. In the interview, Harris addressed a similar point raised by Republican VP nominee Mike Pence. The GovTrack rating, which has since been removed, previously classified Harris as the most liberal senator of 2019. GovTrack's founder, Joshua Tauberer, noted that the organization discontinued these ratings due to their lack of reliability in portraying legislators' activities.

"Visiting the border"

The ad criticizes Harris for allegedly misleading statements about visiting the U.S.-Mexico border. In a June 2021 NBC News interview, Harris was challenged by Lester Holt about her border visits. Harris asserted, "We've been to the border," but Holt pointed out she hadn't been there in person. Harris's response, comparing the border visit to a hypothetical trip to Europe, was meant to deflect from the line of questioning. Later that month, Harris did tour Border Patrol facilities in El Paso, as reported by *The Texas Tribune*.

"Border enforcement"

The ad also takes issue with Harris’s stance on border enforcement, highlighting a 2019 appearance on *The View* where she advocated against criminalizing undocumented border crossings. The ad distorts her position by suggesting she supports "OPEN BORDERS." Harris clarified that while she does not support making unauthorized border crossings a criminal offense, she advocates for treating such crossings as civil matters and supports comprehensive border security and reforms to the Department of Homeland Security. The ad misleadingly suggests she wants to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a claim that misrepresents Harris's call for a critical reexamination of ICE rather than its outright abolition.

"Healthcare for migrants"

The ad accuses Harris of supporting "FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGALS," referencing a 2019 interview with Jake Tapper. During this interview, Tapper quoted from the Medicare for All Act, which Harris supported, and asked if she supported universal health care for undocumented immigrants. Harris stated her opposition to policies that deny public safety, education, or health access to anyone in the country. This statement does not specifically endorse Medicare for All for undocumented migrants but rather opposes denying basic rights to any individual.

"Defunding the police" and "Cop hater"

The ad criticizes Harris for her comments on police funding and safety. It features a clip where Harris requests clarification on "defund the police" during a press conference. She argues for reallocating funds from policing to other critical areas like mental health services and public education, but emphasizes that the goal is not to eliminate police departments. The ad also labels Harris as a "Cop hater," citing a 2020 MSNBC interview where she discussed the need to rethink public safety spending. Harris expressed support for reassessing budget allocations without advocating for a reduction in police presence.

"Giving criminals the vote"

The ad points to a 2019 CNN Town Hall where Harris was asked if criminals, including those on death row, should be given the vote. Her response, suggesting that the topic merited discussion, is presented as evidence of her extreme views. However, Harris later clarified her position, stating that she believes certain serious offenders should be deprived of their voting rights.

"Kamala Harris – wrong on the economy"

The final portion of the ad critiques Harris’s economic policies, arguing that her support for certain initiatives would lead to "trillions in inflationary spending" and higher taxes. The ad includes a clip of Harris advocating for ending the filibuster to pass the Green New Deal and mentions her support for "Bernie’s Bill," or the Medicare for All plan. The ad implies that these positions would have significant negative economic impacts, though it lacks detailed context on the actual proposals and their financial implications.

"Job-killing policies"

Lastly, the ad targets Harris for her past opposition to fracking, labeling her policies as "job-killing." While Harris initially supported a national ban on fracking, she later moderated her position under the Biden administration, rejecting claims that a nationwide fracking ban would be implemented.

Overall, the attack ads aim to paint Harris as extreme in various policy areas, often using selective or misleading representations of her statements and positions.