Kamala Harris condemns Trump’s rhetoric and says voters should make sure he “doesn’t get that microphone again”

PHILADELPHIA – Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday condemned Republican Donald Trump for his inflammatory rhetoric about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, and other issues, saying voters should make sure he “doesn’t get that microphone again.”

In a rare wide-ranging campaign interview on Tuesday with a trio of journalists from the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris said she was heartbroken that threats of violence had sparked unrest in the city after Trump and his running mate spread their unsubstantiated claims that immigrants were kidnapping and eating people’s pets.

Two days after Secret Service agents foiled a suspected assassination attempt on Trump, who blamed Democratic rhetoric for the latest threat to his life, Harris said, “There are far too many people in our country right now who do not feel safe.” She pointed to the threats to immigrants, but also to the conservative Project 2025 for the next Republican administration and Republican efforts to restrict access to abortion.

“Not everyone has Secret Service,” she said. “Members of the LGBTQ community don’t feel safe right now, immigrants or people of immigrant background don’t feel safe right now. Women don’t feel safe right now.”

Harris said she personally trusts the Secret Service and feels safe under its protection. She spoke briefly with Trump on Tuesday to express her gratitude for his safety, but said in the interview that his rhetoric was disqualifying.

“When you have a microphone like that in front of you, you really should understand on a deep level that your words matter,” Harris said, without mentioning Trump by name. “Let’s turn over a new chapter and forge a new path forward and say you can’t have that microphone again.”

Harris said Republican attacks on the city and the migrants there were “lies based on age-old stereotypes.”

The calm interview in Philadelphia contrasted with former President Donald Trump’s appearance before the same organization just a month ago, which drew controversy over racial and other issues.

The Trump interview marked the beginning of a new chapter in the campaign, with the Republican nominee repeatedly questioning Harris’ ethnic identity and baselessly claiming that she “turned black” during her professional career. Trump has since repeatedly questioned Harris’ ethnic identity on the campaign trail and during the presidential debate in September.

Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother, has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s remarks as “the same old show.” During her debate with Trump in September, she said it was a “tragedy” that he “tried to divide the American people over racial issues.”

The vice president stressed that she is working to win the black male vote and is not taking any electorate for granted. Black male voters are traditionally one of the most Democratic-leaning demographics in the country, but Republicans have tried to make inroads while Democrats worry about waning enthusiasm at the ballot box.

“I think it’s very important not to assume that black men are in everyone’s pocket,” Harris said. “Black men are like any other voting group. They have to earn their vote, so I’m working to earn the vote and not assuming that I’m going to get it because I’m black.”

Harris declined to say whether she supports reparations for the descendants of slaves, but said, “We need to speak the truth about the generational impact of our history, as far as the generational impact of slavery and the practice of redlining.” She said she was open to studying the issue “to figure out exactly what we need to do,” but stressed that her focus is on creating economic opportunity.

In his interview with NABJ, Trump sharply criticized the moderators and at times drew boos and groans from the audience. The interview also sparked debate within the NABJ convention itself, which serves as both a networking and community space for black media professionals and a news event.

As with Trump’s appearance, the audience consisted of NABJ members and college students.

Trump, his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and other Republicans have criticized Harris for largely avoiding interviews with the media and not speaking publicly to reporters covering their campaign rallies. She and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, gave a joint interview with CNN last month. Her campaign team recently announced she would do more local media outreach, and last week she appeared for her first solo television interview since being nominated as the Democratic nominee, answering questions from a Philadelphia station.