Harris didn't ask "next question" on CNN's economic inquiry

The claim: Video shows Kamala Harris saying “next question” to avoid a CNN question about the economy

A September 25 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows Vice President Kamala Harris being interviewed by CNN's Dana Bash.

“I wonder what you say to voters who want to go back, especially when it comes to the economy, because their food was cheaper and housing was more affordable when Donald Trump was president,” Bash asks Harris in the video.

In the clip, Harris responds, “Next question, please.”

The title of the post is: “Always deflect the questions.”

The post was liked more than 2,000 times in one day.

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The clip is deceptively edited. Videos released by CNN and a transcript of the August interview show that Harris did not ask the “next question” to Bash's question about the economy. Harris made the comment at another point in the interview, in response to a question about her race.

Videos mislead by stitching together individual interview moments

The clip in the Instagram post shows Harris and her Democratic presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, sitting down with Bash, CNN's chief political correspondent, for an interview that aired on August 29.

However, video of the interview released by CNN shows that the clip in the post was altered to change Harris' answer to Bash's question about voters and the economy. Harris didn't deflect the question by saying, “Next question, please.” Rather, Harris said she and President Joe Biden inherited an economy that “collapsed” because of Trump's “mismanagement” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The video and a CNN transcript of the exchange show Harris went on to say, among other things:

“When we arrived, our top priority was to do everything we could to save America. And today we know that inflation is below 3%. Many of our actions have resulted in America recovering faster than any other rich nation.” But food prices, in particular, are still too high. I know that Example: Dealing with a problem like price gouging.”

Fact check: Biden and Harris' net worth is nowhere near the viral post's claim

Harris did make the “next question” comment in the interview, but it came in response to a question about comments Trump had made about Harris' racial identity. Here's how this exchange went, according to the transcript:

“BASH: Speaking of Republicans, I want to ask you about your opponent, Donald Trump. I was a little surprised, and people may be surprised, to hear that you've never interacted with him and met him in person. That will change soon, but I want to ask you what he said last month. He suggested that you recently turned black for political reasons, questioning a core part of your identity.

HARRIS: Yes.

BASH: Any–

HARRIS: Same old, worn-out playbook. Next question, please. (LAUGH)

BASH: That's it?

HARRIS: That's it.

CNN video of the exchange makes it clear that this was the part of the interview used in the altered clip to make it appear as if Harris had rebuffed Bash's question about the economy.

USA TODAY reached out to the Instagram user who shared the post but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-checking sources:

USA TODAY, Aug. 29: As the Harris-Walz interview captures the nation's attention, a deeper look at the transcript
USA TODAY, July 31, Trump Questions Kamala Harris' Racial Identity at NABJ, Says She 'Accidentally Turned Black'
CNN (YouTube), August 29, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz CNN Interview (Part 1): Planning for First Day in Office
CNN (YouTube), August 29, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz CNN Interview (Part 2): Israel-Hamas War
CNN, August 30, READ: Harris and Walz's exclusive joint interview with CNN

Harris didn't ask “next question” on CNN's economic inquiry

The claim: Video shows Kamala Harris saying “next question” to avoid a CNN question about the economy

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