Trump rejects Harris book claim of private praise, saying he was cordial instead

Former President Donald Trump rejected Kamala Harris's claim that he privately praised her during a concession call, telling Fox News he was cordial but never described her as a 'tough, smart customer'. The denial came in a sit-down with Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy for the debut episode of The Sunday Briefing, as Trump addressed excerpts highlighted in a New York Times review of Harris's forthcoming 2024 campaign memoir.

According to the Times, Harris wrote that she urged Trump to help bring the country together, acknowledging in the moment that the effort was likely a lost cause. The Times review described Trump as making remarks about Harris in a manner that suggested respect for the office, including remarks about her name and the need to be respectful. The report notes that Harris recounted what she heard during the concession call as she described the interaction in her book.

Trump said in the Fox interview that he did not recall saying the particular line attributed to him and that, if anything, he was courteous. He told Doocy that he had met Harris a few times and was always polite to her, and he added that while he believed she would have performed better in a different circumstance, it was not his view to comment on her abilities in that way. During the conversation, Trump emphasized that his exchanges with Harris were cordial and framed his own performance in the 2024 race as having benefited from broad Republican support.

The interview occurred as coverage of Harris's book drew attention from both political camps. Biden aides publicly criticized excerpts from the book, arguing that Harris was portraying herself in a way that did not reflect the administration's view of how the vice presidency should function. The book itself centers on Harris's 2024 campaign experience and her reflections on strategies, debates, and the dynamics within the Democratic ticket.

The timing of the Fox appearance and the underlying book excerpts come as Trump and Harris remain central figures in the ongoing political conversation. The debate over what was said in private conversations continues to surface in media coverage, underscoring the provocative nature of memoirs tied to high-profile campaigns. Doocy and the Fox News program have positioned their debut around access to Trump, who remains a leading figure in Republican politics as the party navigates its upcoming electoral trajectory. The public reaction to Harris's account and Trump's rebuttal illustrates the way personal narratives from the 2024 campaign are being parsed for their impact on voter perception and party messaging.