Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz 60 Minutes Interview Highlights

Vice President Kamala Harris has been the Democratic presidential candidate for less than three months. During that time, she had to deal with relentless attacks from former President Donald Trump while defending her reputation and presenting herself and her plans to the American public.

This week correspondent interviewed Bill Whitaker on 60 Minutes Harris and Vice President Gov. Tim Walz to learn more about Democrats' plans on the economy, immigration, foreign policy and more.

This is the third time Whitaker has interviewed Harris and his first conversation with Walz. The interviews were conducted less than a month before the Nov. 5 election, in which Harris and Walz will face former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance.

Whitaker asked Harris whether the US lacks influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and whether he is a close ally. President Biden's White House has called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but Israel continued the war. The government also called for a ceasefire in Lebanon before Israel increased its bombing there.

“I think, with all due respect, the better question is whether we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people,” Harris said. “And the answer to that question is yes.”

How Harris says she will deal with Putin and the Ukraine war

While the war between Israel and Hamas has dominated the headlines over the past year since Hamas' terrorist attack began on October 7, the War between Ukraine and Russia has been grinding for more than two years.

Harris said she would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war without Ukraine's participation.

“Ukraine must have a say in the future of Ukraine,” she said. “Donald Trump, if he were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now. Let's get this straight. He says, 'Oh, he can finish it on day one.' Do you know what that is? It’s about surrender.”

Harris responds to Trump's decision not to sit down with 60 Minutes

Voters will not hear directly from former President Donald Trump during the 60 Minutes election broadcast. Trump, after initially agreeing, later declined to participate.

“If he doesn’t give your viewers the opportunity to have a meaningful, thoughtful conversation, question and answer with you, then watch his rallies,” Harris said. “You’ll hear conversations that talk about himself and all his personal grievances.”

As Election Day approaches, the economy is the top concern for voters, but Harris defended the Biden administration's record, citing low unemployment rates. She also announced her campaign proposals to establish and expand a federal ban on food and grocery price gouging Child tax credit and provide tax breaks for first-time home buyers and people starting small businesses.

Whitaker asked how she planned to finance her plans and get them through Congress.

“One of the things is that I will make sure that the wealthiest among us, who can afford it, pay their fair share.” SteerHarris said. “It’s not right that teachers, nurses and firefighters pay a higher tax rate than billionaires and the largest corporations.”

Harris recently visited the southern border and welcomed President Biden's recent crackdown on asylum seekers.

“It’s a long-standing problem,” Harris said. “And solutions are available. And from day one, we have literally offered solutions.”

Longer term, Harris said, “We need Congress to act to actually solve the problem.”

Earlier this year non-partisan The border security bill failed after Trump urged Republicans to oppose it.

“Donald Trump learned that this bill was underway and could be passed,” she said, “… and he wants to address a problem rather than solve a problem, so he said to his friends in Congress, 'Bring it Bill passed!' Don't let it continue.'”

Unlike his running mate, who has been on the national stage for many years, Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz was little known outside of Minnesota just two months ago. Since Harris chose him as her running mate in August, he has been on a much bigger stage and under more scrutiny than ever before.

He was criticized for providing false information about him Military record and about his travels to Asia in the 1980s.

In his debate with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Sen. JD Vance, Walz said, “I'm a dick sometimes.”

“I think people know who I am,” Walz told Whitaker, adding that he believes people know the difference between someone like him and a “pathological liar like Donald Trump.”