WATCH: Kamala Harris boasts record of meeting world leaders in rebuke of DeSantis’s Ukraine comments
Conrad Hoyt
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In a sharp criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) stance on the war in Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris shared her experience meeting with “over 100 world leaders” since 2021 as the reason she understands international “rules and norms” and the United States’s responsibility to uphold freedom.
“If you really understand the issues, you probably would not make statements like that,” Harris told Stephen Colbert on his Late Show, referencing DeSantis’s written statement provided to Tucker Carlson calling the war in Ukraine a “territorial dispute.”
DESANTIS SAYS DEFENDING UKRAINE FROM RUSSIA IS NOT A KEY US INTEREST
In her comments, Harris spoke of “the importance of the United States of America standing firm and clear about the significance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the significance of standing firm against any nation that would try to take by force another nation…”
DeSantis had also claimed that it is not in America’s strategic interests to support Ukraine and offer Kyiv strong military aid. This is despite his criticism of the Obama administration in 2015 for not sending lethal aid to Ukraine, saying then, “They want to fight their good fight. They’re not asking us to fight it for them. And the president has steadfastly refused. And I think that that’s a mistake,” per CNN.
The vice president was also asked “once and for all” whether she is a member of the executive branch or legislative branch of the federal government.
“I am in the executive branch,” Harris said with a big smile and her right hand raised.
Colbert asked the question in reference to former Vice President Mike Pence claiming he cannot respond to the subpoena given to him by the special counsel investigating Donald Trump on the Jan. 6 riot and case of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago residence because, as president of the Senate, he was a member of the legislature. Appealing to the separation of powers, Pence has invoked the speech and debate clause in an effort to keep special counsel Jack Smith at bay.
As Harris was making her way out of the Late Show’s studio in Manhattan, New York, protesters heckled her, chanting, “Lock her up,” and chasing her motorcade.
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Underscored by meager polling numbers, Harris has had a less-than-ideal two years as vice president. However, referencing next year’s presidential election, as one prominent Democrat put it, “she’s either going to be a liability or a help.” If Democrats want to be successful in 2024, they’re going to need her to be the latter.