NEWSWhite House Feud: Kamala Harris REFUSES To Back President Joe Biden On Crucial Issue
Apr. 2 2022, Published 11:35 a.m. ET
Are there tensions in the White House?
President Joe Biden recently remarked in an impassioned speech that he didn't believe Russian President Vladimir Putin should remain in power while visiting Warsaw, Poland last weekend.
Now, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to dodge questions asking if she agreed with him.
While talking with MSNBC host Joy Reid on Friday, April 1, Harris instead gave a lengthy non-answer.
"Listen, I think you frame the point quite accurately and well, which is America’s policy has been and will continue to be focused on the real issue at hand," she told Reid, noting they were focused on supporting the "needs of the Ukrainian people" through providing security and humanitarian assistance. "There are serious consequences for Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression as it relates to Ukraine."
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She went on: "Which is why our policy from the beginning has been about ensuring that there are going to be real costs exacted against Russia in the form of severe sanctions, which are having a real impact and immediate impact, not to mention the longer term impact, which is about saying there is going to be consequence and accountability when you commit the kinds of atrocities that he is committing."
Harris finally seemed to semi-address the implied meaning behind Reid's original question, assuring the host that the U.S. is not "into regime change and that is not our policy.
Harris went on to call Biden an "extraordinary leader", mentioning how prime ministers and presidents have often thanked them for helping to bring the the world's leaders back together as opposed to the previous administration.
She explained "one of the most important principles we're fighting for" is the repairing relationships between the United States and its allies, and "the importance of sovereignty" and "territorial integrity."
Reid later gave it another try, asking her if they would have any luck getting her to "weigh in on whether he [Putin] should remain" in power.
"Listen, let me be very clear, let me be very clear," Harris answered. "We are not into regime change and that is not our policy. Period."
