Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism from Republicans after delivering rambling and repetitive remarks during a press conference following the prisoner exchange with Russia, with some critics comparing her to the fictional Vice President Selina Meyer from the HBO political satire "Veep."
Vice President Kamala Harris became the target of Republican ridicule again Friday after delivering rambling and repetitive remarks on the U.S. prisoner exchange with Russia.
President Biden and Harris met with Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan and others at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland around midnight after the freed Americans landed safely on U.S. soil. Biden has called the prisoner exchange with Russia, the largest in post-Cold War history, a "feat of diplomacy."
Vice President Harris's Remarks Draw Republican Ridicule After Prisoner Swap
Harris echoed those remarks in her comments on the tarmac, celebrating the president and his historic accomplishment. "This is an extraordinary day, and I'm very thankful for our president and what he has done over his entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and these individuals," she said.
However, Harris's remarks drew criticism from Republican critics and conservative media figures, who pointed to her use of repetitive and convoluted language.
Vice President Harris's Remarks Draw Republican Ridicule After Prisoner Swap
Former President Trump's campaign's rapid response team clipped her comments with the headline, "KAMALA — UNSCRIPTED FOR THE FIRST TIME." Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance poked fun at her, writing on Twitter, "Kamala sounds like a third-grader giving a book report on a book she didn’t read."
Fox News' Guy Benson quipped, "get her back on prompter." Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro posted on Twitter, "She is beyond word salad. She is now churning out word slaw."
Vice President Harris's Remarks Draw Republican Ridicule After Prisoner Swap
This was not the first time Harris has been criticized for inarticulate off-the-cuff remarks. She was lampooned on "The Daily Show" in May for her habit of repeating herself in public speeches. Harris has often been compared to the fictional Vice President Selina Meyer from HBO's political satire "Veep," not just for her role as vice president, but also for their shared penchant for circular speech patterns.
Some Republicans wondered aloud whether Harris has avoided unscripted interactions with the press since becoming the de facto Democratic nominee for president precisely to prevent another viral moment from hurting her campaign.
Vice President Harris's Remarks Draw Republican Ridicule After Prisoner Swap
"Not one interview, press conference or unscripted moment since she launched her campaign. Why? Here’s why," said Alexander Pantinakis, political director for the Florida GOP, as he shared the clip of Harris speaking at Joint Base Andrews.
The Harris campaign did not respond when asked why the vice president has not held a press conference in the 12 days since emerging as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
A Democratic strategist defended Harris's remarks, arguing that Republicans were focusing on her rhetorical blunders because they could not attack the Biden-Harris administration on substance after securing a win by returning captive Americans home safely.
"You know how I know they’re lying about her powerful response to this important win for America, which we should all celebrate regardless of party? Because their boss, Donald Trump, is too chickens--- to debate Kamala Harris," the strategist said.
A planned debate between President Biden and former President Trump was scrapped after Biden dropped out. The Harris and Trump campaigns have not yet agreed to any debates.
* The 24-person swap was the culmination of difficult negotiations between Washington, D.C., and Moscow, which involved six countries releasing at least one prisoner each and a seventh, Turkey, hosting the exchange in Ankara.
* Harris said the deal demonstrates the importance of having a president who is experienced in diplomacy.
* Republicans have criticized Harris's remarks as "word salad" and have compared her to the fictional Vice President Selina Meyer from "Veep."
* Some Republicans have suggested that Harris is avoiding unscripted interactions with the press to prevent viral moments from hurting her campaign.
* A Democratic strategist defended Harris's remarks, arguing that Republicans were focusing on her rhetorical blunders because they could not attack the Biden-Harris administration on substance.
