Vice President Kamala Harris is under fire for a brief media appearance on Thursday, where she spent less than two minutes answering questions from reporters. This comes after being criticized for going 18 days without engaging with the press.
While campaigning in Michigan, Harris took a handful of questions on the airport tarmac, shortly after former President Trump held a much longer news conference earlier that day. When asked about her lack of interviews or formal press conferences since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Harris responded, “I’ve talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month.”
Her vague promise didn’t sit well with some, especially on social media. Conservative users on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to call out what they saw as minimal effort from Harris. Many felt the questions she did answer were easy and unchallenging, leaving them wanting more substance.
Radio host Ari Hoffman noted the stark contrast between Harris and Trump, saying, “Trump spent a seemingly endless amount of time taking unvetted questions from the press… and this is the best Kamala could do? Will the media accept these crumbs?”
Others, like Daily Caller’s Reagan Reese, pointed out that when President Biden’s political career was on the line, his team quickly arranged interviews and press conferences. “He’s now sitting for another interview before Harris has even done one,” Reese wrote.
Criticism continued from RedState writer Bonchie, who commented on the nature of the questions Harris received. “Kamala Harris finally takes a few questions in passing, speaking for less than a minute, and you’ll be shocked to learn they were all softballs,” he said.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, Trump has proposed additional debates on Fox News and NBC next month, but Harris remained noncommittal. “I am happy to have that conversation about an additional debate for after September 10, for sure,” Harris said, though she didn’t make any specific commitments.
It seems that Harris’s brief interaction with the press has left both critics and supporters wanting more, and the pressure is on for her to engage more fully as the campaign continues.
