Former President Donald Trump has taken aim at Vice President Kamala Harris following comments made by Senator Bernie Sanders about her policy positions.

According to Fox News, Trump accused Sanders of throwing Harris "under the bus" after the Vermont senator suggested Harris had altered her stance on certain issues for electoral gain.

In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Sanders was questioned about Harris abandoning some of her more progressive policy positions, such as her support for a fracking ban and "Medicare-for-all."

When asked if Harris was abandoning her progressive ideals, Sanders defended the Vice President, stating that she was pragmatic in her approach to winning the election.

Trump's Response To Sanders' Comments On Harris

Trump quickly seized on Sanders' remarks, posting on his Truth Social platform that Sanders had exposed Harris as a "total phony."

The former president interpreted Sanders' comments as an admission that Harris had only changed her "Marxist policy positions" for the election and would revert to her original stances once in office.

In his social media posts, Trump emphasized his view that Harris' policy shifts were disingenuous. He claimed that Sanders had effectively called out Harris for being inauthentic in her political positioning.

Trump's campaign team also weighed in on the matter, with National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoing the former president's sentiments. Leavitt accused Harris of being a typical career politician who deceives voters to win elections.

Sanders' Defense Of Harris' Policy Shifts

Despite Trump's interpretation, Sanders' original comments were more nuanced. The senator, known for his progressive stance, defended Harris' actions as pragmatic rather than abandoning her ideals.

Sanders stated:

No, I don't think she's abandoning her ideals. I think she's trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election.

Sanders went on to affirm that he still considers Harris a progressive, even if they don't agree on every issue. This stance suggests a more complex view of political maneuvering within the Democratic party than Trump's characterization implies.

Harris Campaign's Response To Policy Shift Allegations

The Harris campaign has previously addressed questions about the Vice President's evolving policy positions. A campaign spokesperson confirmed that Harris had indeed changed her stance on several key issues, framing this as a "pragmatic" approach aimed at building consensus.

The spokesperson stated:

While Donald Trump is wedded to the extreme ideas in his Project 2025 agenda, Vice President Harris believes real leadership means bringing all sides together to build consensus. It is that approach that made it possible for the Biden-Harris administration to achieve bipartisan breakthroughs on everything from infrastructure to gun violence prevention. As President, she will take that same pragmatic approach, focusing on common-sense solutions for the sake of progress.

This response attempts to position Harris' policy shifts as a strength, emphasizing her ability to work across party lines and achieve concrete results.

Upcoming Presidential Debate And Campaign Strategies

The exchange between Trump and Sanders comes ahead of a scheduled presidential debate where Trump and Harris are set to face off. Trump's campaign has indicated that they plan to use this opportunity to challenge Harris on her record and policy positions.

Karoline Leavitt, speaking for the Trump campaign, stated that the former president would use the debate to hold Harris accountable for what they perceive as failures of the current administration. This suggests that Harris' policy shifts and her record in office will likely be key points of contention during the upcoming debate.

The Harris campaign, for its part, seems prepared to defend the Vice President's pragmatic approach, emphasizing her ability to achieve bipartisan results. This sets the stage for a debate that may focus heavily on the nature of political compromise and the balance between ideological consistency and practical governance.

Conclusion

Trump has accused Harris of being a "Marxist" who only changed her positions for electoral gain. Sanders defended Harris, calling her shifts pragmatic. The Harris campaign framed her evolving stances as consensus-building. This disagreement highlights differing views on political flexibility versus ideological consistency. The upcoming presidential debate is expected to address these contrasting perspectives on Harris' policy positions and her record in office.