Harris dismisses Trump attack ad as non-knockout in memoir previews
In previews of 107 Days, the former vice president addresses the ad on transgender policy, her 2024 bid, and her stance on sports fairness.
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Kamala Harris has scoffed at the notion that a Trump campaign ad accusing her of supporting government-funded transgender surgeries for illegal migrants and inmates delivered a knockout punch to her 2024 presidential bid, according to previews of her forthcoming memoir, 107 Days. The ad, which framed Harris as aligned with “they/them” policies, became a flashpoint during the campaign cycle, with some observers arguing it signaled a knockout blow to her campaign. Harris suggested that such conclusions reflect the “conventional wisdom of middle-aged men who don’t live in battleground states,” while acknowledging the ad felt like a winning message in some circles.
She stressed that there was no way she would abandon transgender people and emphasized her deep connection to the community. “This is a community with which I have a deep connection,” Harris said, adding that she does not regret protecting transgender people. Still, she said she wished she had countered the line more effectively and cautioned that there is no distinction between “they/them” and “you,” noting that the pronoun that matters is “we.” The remarks stem from CNN reporting on a 2020 campaign-era questionnaire from the American Civil Liberties Union in which Harris said she would use executive powers to ensure that transgender and nonbinary people who rely on the state for medical care — including those in prison and immigration detention — would receive access to “all necessary surgical care.” She reiterated that stance during an interview with the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund.
IMAGE: Kamala Harris campaign image
Throughout the 2024 cycle, GOP operatives and the Trump campaign highlighted Harris’s earlier left-leaning positions from her brief 2020 presidential bid, seizing on those stances to argue she would pursue expansive government programs. Harris said she took pride in her efforts to safeguard transgender people, but she acknowledged political realities around culture-war issues, including fairness in girls’ sports. She said that with goodwill and practical steps, policymakers can address concerns without vilifying children. The memoir also touches on her reflections about President Joe Biden and her decision to enter the race in 2020.
The book, which chronicles a 107-day campaign, is slated for release Tuesday. It comes as culture-war questions about transgender rights and sports continue to shape political discourse. Earlier this year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom conceded that it’s deeply unfair for transgender athletes who are biologically male to compete against biological women in some sports, a point Harris acknowledges in the broader debate over how to balance inclusion with fairness. Harris’s notes also offer a candid look at her brief presidential bid and how it intersected with her later role alongside Biden.