Opinion: Harris did with Fox News what Trump can’t do anywhere: deal with tough questions

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris sat down for an interview on America’s den of misinformation – Fox News – on Wednesday evening that showed two things:

1. She has far more courage than her opponent Donald Trump.

2. Fox News remains an arm of the Republican Party.

First of all, Harris deserves credit for conducting an interview that she and her campaign knew would consist of a series of “gotcha” questions and attempts to get her to say mean things about Trump supporters say, à la Hillary Clinton’s infamous but accurate “basket.” of deplorables.”

By comparison, Trump canceled a scheduled CNBC interview and refused to follow Harris’ lead and continue on “60 Minutes,” preferring to do things like his Fox News town hall on Wednesday, where he faced a room full of Trump supporters were asked coddling questions.

Fox News host Bret Baier constantly interrupted Kamala Harris during the interview

So points go to Harris in the courage department, while Trump maintains his image as a “weak man pretending to be tough.”

Fox News host Bret Baier was the chosen questioner for Harris’ interview, and he behaved like a man who had little respect for what a powerful woman has to say. His questions were pointed, which is fine, and he relentlessly asked follow-up questions, which is also fine. But Baier barely allowed the incumbent vice president to speak, constantly persuading her and interrupting her throughout the interview.

Baier went after Harris with a tenacity and viciousness that his network had never come close to using against Trump.

Trump fans and his many minions at Fox News will no doubt say that Harris failed miserably, but the truth for people operating outside the bubble of insanity is that she more than held her own in a highly controversial situation.

Harris criticized Fox News’ disingenuous Trump clip

At one point, Baier showed a clip — ironically from a previous Fox News softball interview with Trump — in which the former president tried to downplay his recent, heavy-handed ramblings about how Americans who don’t support him are “the enemy within.” “be.

Harris quickly called out Baier: “I’m sorry and with all due respect, that clip was not what he said about the enemy within, what he has repeated when he speaks about the American people.” That’s not that , what you just showed.”

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Would Fox ever ask Trump such questions? Of course not.

During her answer to the first question of the interview, Baier interrupted Harris six times and continued talking over her.

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The questions were rightfully difficult, and the vice president completely dodged some of the tougher references to the Biden administration’s immigration policies. But what the interview showed is that Harris can more than hold her own in an extremely hostile environment, which most people already knew, but Fox News viewers willing to be honest with themselves were probably surprised, when they saw that.

But what matters most is that Harris sat there and took it. She took part in an interview with Fox News — which in itself is a sign that her campaign is confident and trying to expand its reach to conservative and independent voters — and she didn’t storm out. She didn’t whine or insult the interviewer for asking difficult questions.

That’s a lot more than anyone can say about Donald Trump.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Harris outdoes Trump and holds her own in thrilling Fox interview