Noted media personality and former Fox News host, Geraldo Rivera, expressed strong criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris on October 17th, 2024. This followed Harris’ recent appearance on Fox News, where anchor Bret Baier grilled her on the topic of immigration.
Rivera, who has publicly declared his support for Harris in the forthcoming election, was nonetheless disappointed with her responses regarding immigration.
In his discussion on NewsNation following the interview, Rivera characterized Harris as “feisty” and mature, but was perplexed by her inability to effectively respond to the immigration queries. Rivera suggested that it should have been evident that the Fox News interview would focus on the southern border and the Republican perspective on immigration. He stated that Harris’ team missed a vital chance to prepare more robust responses.
During the interview, Baier brought up the alleged deaths of several Americans, including Laken Riley, caused by undocumented immigrants. According to Rivera, Harris did not acknowledge the political manipulation of these sad incidents. Rivera felt that Harris could have demonstrated empathy towards the victims while also addressing the politicization of their deaths, a missed opportunity for her campaign.
Rivera’s critique extended beyond Harris’ handling of the interview to the Democratic Party’s general approach to the immigration crisis. He cautioned that immigration is the Democrats’ “biggest Achilles heel,” and their failure to offer tangible solutions could severely impact their election prospects. Rivera underscored how this issue, if mismanaged, could benefit Donald Trump, who has made immigration a central part of his campaign.
This is not the first time Rivera has taken issue with Harris’ media performances. Despite endorsing her for president, he has repeatedly expressed concern about her handling of crucial issues. He asserted that Harris needs to be more assertive in dealing with matters such as immigration, an area where she has shown weakness. Rivera has called on her team to be more tactical in navigating these politically sensitive topics and to be prepared for attacks from adversaries.
Along with immigration, Harris was also questioned about President Biden’s health and foreign relations, including U.S. policy towards Iran, during her interview with Baier. Though her comments on these issues were less contentious, her perceived misstep on immigration took center stage in post-interview discussions.
With U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting over seven million encounters with illegal immigrants since the start of the 2021 fiscal year, the issue of immigration has taken on heightened significance. According to Rivera, these alarming figures make the immigration question inescapable and necessitate a direct response from the Democratic Party.
In the context of the 2024 presidential race, Rivera’s criticism of Harris is noteworthy. His commitment to vote for her, coupled with his dismissal of Trump’s unfounded allegations about the 2020 election, labeling him a “sore loser,” positions him uniquely. His critiques echo the sentiments of moderates and Democrats who wish to see Harris take a stronger stand on key issues.