Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, criticized the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response during the debate on Wednesday as “the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of this county.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who also serves as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said he and President Donald Trump trust the American people to make their own safety decisions when it comes to COVID-19.
“We are about freedom and the freedom of the American people,” Pence said.
Harris responded that Trump and Pence knew of the seriousness of the coronavirus for months before sharing the information with the American people.
Pence and Harris were seated 12 feet away from one another behind plexiglass barriers, and everyone in the audience was required to wear a mask. Pence’s team originally pushed back against the plexiglass barriers, saying extra precaution wasn’t needed.
When asked about the Trump administration’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, Pence said to Harris, “Our hope is that unlike Justice (Brett) Kavanaugh, with treatment from you and others, we hope she gets a fair hearing.”
Pence said Democrats should not discriminate against her because of her strong faith.
“Joe Biden and I are both people of faith, and it’s insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith,” Harris said.
Harris said she supports abortion rights and Pence said, “I am pro-life and I will not apologize for that.”
Harris avoided a question about packing the Supreme Court and instead stressed the importance of waiting to confirm a nominee because Americans are currently voting.
Harris highlighted the big talking point from the first presidential debate, saying Trump refused to denounce white supremacy. “It wasn’t like he didn’t have a chance, he didn’t do it and then he doubled down,” Harris said.
Both candidates were asked what they would do if Biden won the election and Trump refused to leave office.
Harris encouraged people to vote and Pence said he is confident it won’t be an issue because Trump will win.