Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey avoided addressing Vice President Kamala Harris’ controversial statement from last week’s debate. Harris had claimed there were no U.S. military members in active combat zones, a remark widely fact-checked as inaccurate.
During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” host Martha Raddatz questioned Healey about the comment. In the debate, Harris said, “There is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century.” Raddatz pointed out that 900 U.S. military personnel are in Syria, with 2,500 in Iraq, and additional military operations occur daily, including in the Red Sea.
When asked why Harris made the claim, Healey shifted focus. “That was a comment in a debate,” she said, suggesting Harris was trying to make a broader point.
Raddatz pushed further, asking whether Harris was unaware of the military’s presence in combat zones. Healey instead highlighted Harris’ leadership compared to former President Donald Trump. “Kamala Harris, in contrast to Donald Trump, showed she could be commander-in-chief,” Healey said. “She supports the military, while Trump calls them suckers and losers.”
Healey continued, noting that Trump’s former generals now support Harris. “They believe Trump shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office,” she said.
Governor Healey, who endorsed Harris after President Biden withdrew from the race, focused on defending Harris’ leadership without addressing the specifics of her debated statement.
