Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, has been making a strong push in the media after facing criticism for not participating in enough interviews during the election campaign. Recently, she has appeared on various platforms, including a podcast, a talk show, and even Fox News, where she defended the Biden-Harris administration’s track record on key issues like immigration, the economy, and transgender rights. However, some of her statements have sparked fact-checking efforts to provide clarity and context. Here’s an analysis of some of her key claims.
Transgender Surgeries in Federal Prisons
Claim: Kamala Harris said that under Donald Trump’s administration, transgender surgeries were available to federal prisoners.
Verdict: This claim is partially true but needs context. While the policy allowed for gender-affirming care, including surgeries, during Trump’s presidency, no such surgeries were actually performed on federal prisoners during his time in office. Two surgeries were carried out under President Biden, in 2022 and 2023. Harris referenced a Republican ad during a Fox News interview where she was asked if she still supported transgender surgeries for prisoners, a stance she discussed in 2019.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) confirmed that federal prison policies under both Trump and Biden permitted medical care for gender dysphoria, but Harris’s remark may have led some to believe these surgeries were happening during Trump’s term, which wasn’t the case.
Unemployment at Historic Lows
Claim: Harris stated that unemployment in the U.S. is at a historic low.
Verdict: This claim is misleading. While unemployment is low, it is not the lowest in U.S. history. Currently, unemployment stands at 4.1%, but the lowest recorded rate was 2.5% in 1953. Under Trump, the rate hit 3.5% before the pandemic. However, during the Biden administration, unemployment reached 3.4% in January 2023, the lowest in over 50 years, but has since risen slightly.
Illegal Immigration Cut in Half
Claim: Harris claimed that the Biden administration has cut illegal immigration by half.
Verdict: This claim is somewhat accurate but lacks detail. Harris didn’t specify a timeframe when making this statement on CBS’s 60 Minutes. In December 2023, there were 370,000 encounters with migrants at the southern border, but by August 2024, that number had dropped to 160,000, representing a 57% decrease. This reduction followed new regulations introduced by Biden that restricted asylum claims.
However, the Biden administration has seen a significant increase in overall encounters with migrants. Since taking office in January 2021, there have been about 8 million encounters at the southern border, compared to 2.4 million during Trump’s term. So while recent numbers have fallen, the total under Biden remains much higher.
Creation of 800,000 Manufacturing Jobs
Claim: Harris said that almost 800,000 new manufacturing jobs have been created under the Biden administration.
Verdict: This statement needs some context. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 729,000 manufacturing jobs have been added since January 2021. However, the number of these jobs has been decreasing in recent months. From May to September 2024, the sector lost 44,000 jobs. Currently, about 12.9 million people are employed in manufacturing, which is 90,000 more than during Trump’s peak. While manufacturing jobs were hit hard by the pandemic, they began to recover under Trump and continued to grow under Biden.
Abortion Bans in Southern States
Claim: Harris said that every southern state except Virginia has an abortion ban.
Verdict: This claim is mostly accurate but requires some nuance. Harris made this comment on the podcast Call Her Daddy while discussing abortion laws. Thirteen states, mostly in the South, have nearly total abortion bans, although some have exceptions for cases like rape or incest.
However, some southern states like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina allow abortions during the first six weeks of pregnancy. North Carolina has a 12-week limit, and in Virginia, abortions are permitted up until the start of the third trimester, or around 28 weeks. So while many southern states have strict abortion laws, there are varying degrees of restriction, and some states still permit abortion under specific conditions.
Conclusion
Kamala Harris’s recent media appearances have brought key issues into the spotlight. While some of her claims are based on truth, many require context to fully understand their implications. Fact-checking these statements is crucial for voters as they make decisions in the upcoming election. Harris’s defense of the Biden administration’s record shows her willingness to tackle tough topics, but it’s important for the public to consider the broader context surrounding her claims.
