Unexpected Campaign Ad Move by Kamala Harris Raises Eyebrows

Kamala Harris sparks a hypocrisy debate after her campaign ads feature footage of Trump’s border wall.

At a Glance

Kamala Harris pledges to spend millions on the border wall despite previous opposition.
Harris adopts a tougher immigration stance in response to Trump’s campaign attacks.
CNN criticizes Harris for her campaign ads, which include Trump border wall imagery.
Sen. James Lankford and other critics highlight Harris’ past criticism of the wall.
The bill reallocates $650 million for wall construction and includes additional border security measures.

Harris Pledges Wall Funding Post-Opposition

Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to the southern border wall if elected president, a stark contrast to her previous denunciations of the wall. Despite her long-standing criticism of Trump’s immigration policies, Harris’ new approach aims to paint her as committed to strong border control measures.

Her shift comes in response to increasing pressure from Donald Trump’s campaign, which has relentlessly attacked her on immigration issues. Notably, Harris now supports a bipartisan border security bill, which reallocates unspent funds for wall construction set under Trump’s administration.

CNN Highlights Campaign Hypocrisy

CNN has called out Harris for using footage of Trump’s border wall in her campaign advertisements. This imagery starkly contrasts her previous assertions that the wall is “un-American” and a “waste of taxpayer money.”

CNN’s Eric Burnett recalls how Harris had bashed the wall in her book in 2019, calling it a “monument standing in opposition to not just everything I value, but to the fundamental values upon which this country was built.”

This development has fueled debates about Harris’ authenticity and her campaign tactics. Critics like Sen. James Lankford have expressed surprise at her sudden support for the bill, pointing out her lack of involvement in negotiations.

NEW: Kamala Harris once slammed the Trump administration's policies on asylum and the border wall.

But now as she tries to strengthen her image on the border, she featured Trump's border wall in a campaign ad. And she's embraced v. strict asylum policieshttps://t.co/FlorMoxr10

— em steck (@emsteck) September 4, 2024

Multifaceted Bill Includes Not Just Wall Funding

The bipartisan border security bill does more than just support border wall construction. It reallocates $650 million for the wall, far less than Trump’s original $18 billion request. The bill also funds asylum lawyers and judges and permits the president to shut down the border if migrant crossings exceed 5,000 per day.

“Trump’s border wall is a complete waste of taxpayer money and won’t make us any safer.” – Harris

Advisers argue that the bill does not include new money for the wall but merely extends the period for spending already appropriated funds. This nuanced stance aims to reconcile Harris’ past opposition with her current campaign strategy.

Broader Implications of Harris’ Shift

Harris’ new stance reflects the lasting impact of Trump on the immigration debate. Despite claims from her campaign that she hasn’t flipped her position, the decision to include border wall footage in ads has sparked substantial controversy, questioning her true motives.

“The bill itself sets the standards that were set during the Trump administration: Here’s where it will be built. Here’s how it has to be built, the height, the type, everything during the Trump construction.” – Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.)

Given this shift, Harris’ political opponents are seizing the opportunity to cast doubts on her consistency and principles. This issue is likely to be a focal point as the campaign progresses, providing further material for both her critics and supporters.