Things got pretty heated on CNN when former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy clashed with host Kate Bolduan over Donald Trump’s policies and Kamala Harris’s shifting stances.
The exchange was a back-and-forth verbal wrestling match, with both sides raising their voices and often talking over each other. Ramaswamy, who has become a fervent Trump surrogate since dropping his own presidential bid, tried to defend Trump while taking sharp aim at Harris’s record of policy changes.
Ramaswamy didn’t hold back, referencing Harris’s past support for policies like taxing unrealized capital gains, banning private health insurance, and prohibiting fracking and offshore drilling. He called these positions extreme and out of touch with mainstream America, using them as evidence of why greater scrutiny of Harris is necessary, particularly in a debate setting. And in true Ramaswamy fashion, he doubled down on the need for the media to give Harris a tougher time, pushing for more in-depth interviews to grill her on these shifts.
Bolduan, clearly not thrilled with Ramaswamy’s framing, stepped in to correct what she saw as misrepresentations. She was quick to point out that Harris no longer supports banning private health insurance or fracking, emphasizing that Harris herself has acknowledged evolving on these issues. Bolduan even referenced a recent CNN interview in which Harris defended her shift, stating that while her policy positions have changed, her core values remain the same.
Ramaswamy wasn’t convinced, however, continuing to press the idea that Harris’s past positions were significant enough to warrant scrutiny. But Bolduan didn’t let up either, suggesting that if policy flip-flopping is a fatal flaw, Donald Trump would have some serious issues to answer for, particularly in light of his shifting stance on Florida’s six-week abortion ban.
Just days before, Trump had described the six-week restriction as a “mistake” and expressed his preference for a more lenient time frame. Bolduan highlighted this as an example of Trump’s inconsistency, much like Harris’s evolution on fracking and healthcare.
Ramaswamy attempted to explain Trump’s stance, characterizing the Florida abortion referendum as “vague” and leaving room for interpretation. But Bolduan wasn’t having it, pointing to Trump’s public comments as evidence of his own flip-flopping on the issue. The two continued to spar, with each trying to make their point over the other.
Vivek will never be allowed on CNN again… 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NomQRK05iC
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 4, 2024
Ramaswamy made it clear that he believes Harris’s policy shifts should be scrutinized, while Bolduan argued that Trump’s own inconsistencies deserve attention. Either way, the exchange underscores the high-stakes political theater leading into the 2024 election, where both sides will continue to accuse the other of flip-flopping as they try to sway voters.
