Harris Responds to Criticism About Not Talking to Reporters

After drawing criticism for not holding press conferences or talking with reporters since the start of her presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday that she hopes to schedule an interview before September 1.

For Context: Some Republicans claimed Harris was “hiding” from the press after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Former President Donald Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago Thursday to contrast Harris’ lack of interviews, saying she’s “not smart enough to do a news conference.” Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance approached her plane on Thursday because he wanted to “ask her why she refuses to answer questions from the media.”

Harris’ Response: Harris told reporters on Thursday that she wants to “get an interview scheduled before the end of the month,” marking the first time that she spoke with the press on the record since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee. Harris has talked to journalists off the record several times on her plane.

How The Media Covered It: Media from the right and The New York Times (Lean Left bias) reported that Harris’ conversation with reporters Thursday lasted for 70 seconds. Sources from the right emphasized that it took 18 days for Harris to speak with reporters on the record since announcing her presidential campaign. The Times reported that Harris is taking a “cautious approach, relying on televised rallies and prepared statements amid a tightly controlled rollout of her candidacy.”