In her first major television interview of her presidential campaign, the 59-year-old US Vice President, who will face Trump in the November 5 elections, said the American people are ready for a "new way forward"

"I think sadly in the last decade, we have had in the former president someone who has really been pushing an agenda and an environment that is about diminishing the character and the strength of who we are as Americans really dividing our nation," Harris, in a joint interview with her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, told CNN

"And I think people are ready to turn the page on that," Harris, the Democratic Party`s candidate, said

"The American people are ready for a new way forward. Our former president has pushed an agenda that diminishes the character and strength of who we are as Americans, and divides our nation. People are ready to turn the page," she said in a post on X, linking an interview snippet

Harris, who is of Indian and African heritage, also refused to engage in Trump`s identity politics during the interview

She eluded questions about Trump`s claims over her racial identity, calling those a part of the "same old tired playbook"

Last month, Trump questioned Harris` racial identity at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, suggesting she had previously identified as South Asian but "happened to turn Black" for political purposes

Her refusal to comment aligned with her campaign`s strategy to avoid leaning into identity politics following Trump`s remarks, CNN reported

Responding to a question about a previous debate on the decriminalisation of US borders, she said, "I believe there should be consequence. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. And there should be consequence"