Harris pressed on transgender rights, potentially pardoning Trump: 5 key moments from NBC interview

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris said she thinks America is “absolutely” ready for a woman of color to serve as president in a Tuesday interview with NBC News, during which she addressed issues ranging from LGBTQ rights to former President Donald Trump's criminal charges.

The interview, which took place at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., the traditional home for vice presidents, comes as the race for the White House has entered its final stretch.

Harris has tried to use the airwaves to court undecided voters before Election Day, making traditional appearances on programs such as "60 Minutes" but also answering questions on mega-popular podcasts, such as "Call Her Daddy."

“I think part of what is important in this election is really not only turning the page, but closing the page and the chapter on an era that suggests that Americans are divided,” she told NBC network anchor Hallie Jackson.

Harris talked about her stances and proposals on immigration, abortion and other issues, but she had a contentious exchange with Jackson over transgender rights and sidestepped questions over a potential pardon for Trump.

Here are five top moments from the interview.

Sexism not to blame for 2024 election's gender gap, Harris says

If elected, Harris would be the country's first female president. She rejected the idea that sexism could be a negative factor for her campaign during the interview with NBC.

“I don’t think of it that way,” Harris said.

“I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race,” the vice president added. “Instead, that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance.”

In a USA TODAY/Suffolk University survey released Monday, Harris held a 17-point lead among women, while Trump had an inverse advantage with men by 16 percentage points.

When asked why she’s been reluctant to talk about the historic nature of her candidacy, Harris said what voters really care about is whether the candidate can do the job.

“Well, I’m clearly a woman,” Harris said Tuesday, laughing. “I don’t need to point that out to anyone.”

Harris gets into contentious exchange over transgender rights

Harris didn’t give a specific answer when asked whether she believes transgender Americans should have access to gender-affirming care.

“I think we should follow the law. I mean, I think you’re probably pointing to the fact that Donald Trump’s campaign has spent tens of millions of dollars…,” Harris said before Jackson cut her off and asked her the question again.

Harris then said she won’t put herself in the position of doctors, whom she said have the right to make the decision “in terms of what is medically necessary.”

Trump and many Republican lawmakers and candidates have criticized Harris' past comments offering support for people in prison having access to medical care for gender-affirming surgeries.

LGBTQ rights haven't taken center stage in Harris' bid for the White House, but the vice president did tell Jackson Tuesday that, "I believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, period, and should not be vilified for who they are, and should not be bullied for who they are."

Harris says she does not believe in ‘concessions’ on abortion

Harris suggested during the interview that she would not compromise on efforts to reinstate abortion protections.

“I don’t think we should be making concessions when we’re talking about a fundamental freedom to make decisions about your own body,” Harris told Jackson.

When pressed whether she would potentially accept religious exemptions or offer more moderate Republicans, such as Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, an “olive branch” in negotiations, Harris said she was “not going to engage in hypotheticals.”

Reproductive rights have been central to Harris’ campaign, and abortion is likely to be top of mind for many voters in the first presidential election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

A pardon for Trump?

Trump’s criminal charges were in the spotlight during the interview, when Harris was asked whether she would pardon the former president if elected to office and he was convicted in his federal cases.

“I’m not going to get into those hypotheticals. I’m focused on the next 14 days,” Harris said.

Trump faces two federal indictments: one over his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and another over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021. He was also convicted in a case earlier this year tied to hush money payments, but that's a state-level case in New York.

Harris also dismissed the question of whether a pardon could help bring America together.

“Let me tell you what’s going to help us move on. I get elected president of the United States,” she said.

Harris reaffirms support for Biden after disastrous debate

Harris defended Biden's leadership, saying she would not take back her support of the president’s mental acuity in the wake of his campaign-ending debate performance in June.

“It was a bad debate. People have bad debates,” Harris told Jackson.

In his showdown with Trump over the summer, Biden struggled with a hoarse voice, at times stumbling over words and appearing to lose his train of thought. The performance fueled widespread backlash, including from Democratic allies, and ultimately led to Biden’s exit from the race.

Harris, who defended Biden at the time, then rose to the top of the Democratic ticket.

Saying she has worked “hours and hours and hours” with Biden as vice president, Harris maintained that the president is “accomplished, experienced and capable in every way."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris pressed on trans rights, potentially pardoning Trump: Takeaways