The latest controversy involving Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked a lot of discussion, especially after an incorrect claim made on NBC’s “Meet The Press” led to an embarrassing retraction. Here’s what happened.
During a recent episode of “Meet The Press,” host Kristen Welker was interviewing Senator Tom Cotton about the ongoing debate surrounding former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
The visit, which was meant to honor the 13 U.S. service members who were killed in the Kabul suicide bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal, has been the subject of significant political back-and-forth.
Vice President Harris and other Democrats have criticized Trump, accusing him of disrespecting sacred ground by having photos taken at the event.
However, the Gold Star families of the fallen service members have come out strongly in defense of Trump, clarifying that they had invited him to the ceremony and had asked for the event to be documented with photos. The families emphasized that these photos were important for them as a way to remember and honor their loved ones.
During the interview, Senator Cotton defended Trump and highlighted the fact that both President Biden and Vice President Harris were invited to the ceremony but chose not to attend. He pointed out that Biden was at the beach and Harris was at her residence in Washington, D.C., rather than participating in the memorial.
At this point, Kristen Welker incorrectly interjected, claiming that Harris had joined Biden at Dover Air Force Base on August 29, 2021, for the dignified transfer of the 13 service members’ remains. This statement was quickly proven false, as Harris was not present at that event. As a result, NBC News was forced to issue a retraction, acknowledging the mistake on social media.
The official “Meet The Press” account posted, “On our broadcast this morning, we incorrectly implied that both President Biden and Vice President Harris attended the dignified transfer of 13 American service members killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Biden was in attendance but Harris was not.”
This error added fuel to the ongoing criticism of Harris’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and her relationship with the Gold Star families affected by it. The families have been vocal about their disappointment with Harris and Biden, particularly in light of Harris’s public comments about the withdrawal and the way the administration has handled the aftermath.
