Trump, Vance falsely claim Harris wants to ban red meat
- Published on August 14, 2024 at 18:41
- 3 min read
- By Manon JACOB, AFP USA
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"Kamala called for slashing consumption of red meat to fight climate change," said former US president Donald Trump during a July 27 rally in St Cloud, Minnesota.
JD Vance, the Republican presidential nominee's running mate, echoed the claim in an August 3 speech, saying Harris "wants to take away your ability to eat red meat."
Posts across X, Instagram and Facebook -- as well as an article from The People's Voice, a website AFP has fact-checked multiple times for spreading misinformation -- have amplified the allegations.
Trump and his supporters have ramped up criticism of the Democratic presidential candidate since Joe Biden announced in July that he would not seek reelection, endorsing Harris instead.
AFP found no credible evidence that the former California prosecutor supports banning red meat.
A Google keyword search surfaced a climate panel hosted by CNN in September 2019.
During the event, CNN host Erin Burnett introduced Harris to attendee Caroline Coursant, a New York-based lawyer who questioned the then-Democratic presidential candidate on the impact certain foods, including red meat, have on the environment (archived here).
Burnett followed up by asking Harris: "Would you support changing the dietary guidelines ... to reduce red meat specifically?"
"Yes, I would," Harris answered after saying "I love cheeseburgers from time to time."
She continued: "I strongly believe that the American consumer is still left without the information that you need and deserve to have about what it is that you are putting in your body or surrounding yourself with. And the health implications of those things. And so across the board and with this subject, we have to do a better job."
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (archived here), set by the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, provide "advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease." They do not outlaw certain products.
Harris's campaign website (archived here) does not mention banning red meat. AFP contacted the campaign for comment, but a response was not forthcoming.
More of AFP's reporting on misinformation about the 2024 election is available here.
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