|
Vance's 2021 comments criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris
and other Democrats as "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are
miserable at their own lives" resurfaced after Trump selected
the Ohio senator as his running mate earlier this month.
The comments prompted a backlash and warnings from some
political strategists that they could cost the Trump campaign
valuable votes in a close election that could be decided in a
handful of states by a few thousand voters. Harris is the likely
Democratic Party presidential nominee for the Nov. 5 election
following President Joe Biden's decision to quit the race.
Trump said in an interview on Fox News he did not place a higher
value on people with families.
"You know, you don't meet the right person, or you don't meet
any person. But you're just as good, in many cases, a lot better
than a person that's in a family situation," Trump said.
Harris has two stepchildren with her husband, lawyer Doug Emhoff.
Emhoff's ex-wife has called such attacks "baseless" and
described Harris as a "loving, nurturing, fiercely protective"
co-parent.
Trump said Vance, who had a tough upbringing in Ohio and was
largely raised by his grandmother, was simply trying to show how
much he values family life.
"He grew up in a very interesting family situation, and he feels
family is good. And I don't think there's anything wrong in
saying that," Trump said.
In the Fox interview, Trump also did little to clear up
questions over whether he will participate in a Sept. 10 debate
with Harris. The event had been previously scheduled against
Biden.
"I'll probably end up debating," Trump said. "But I can also
make a case for not doing it."
(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer and Eric Beech; Editing by Ross
Colvin and Stephen Coates)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
