Vice President Kamala Harris finally addressed reporters' questions after facing criticism for avoiding the press. Her remarks centered around meeting Trump for their ABC debate on Sept. 10 and praising her running mate, Tim Walz.
Vice President Kamala Harris, after weeks of silence, finally answered questions from reporters on Thursday, addressing her upcoming debate with former President Trump and praising her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Harris has remained largely out of the public eye since President Biden announced he would not seek re-election and she became the Democratic nominee. She has avoided on-the-record interviews and press conferences, prompting criticism from the Trump campaign and media pundits.
Kamala Harris Breaks Weeks-Long Silence, Faces Questions on Debate Performance
GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance and former President Trump have repeatedly called out Harris for her lack of accessibility, urging the media to hold her accountable. NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham credits Trump and Vance with forcing the issue into the spotlight.
"The press has displayed zero self-respect as Kamala Harris has avoided press conferences and interviews for weeks," Graham told Fox News Digital. "They typically treat all perceived Republican talking points as the opposite of news."
Kamala Harris Breaks Weeks-Long Silence, Faces Questions on Debate Performance
Harris' brief gaggle on the tarmac in Michigan lasted less than two minutes. She reiterated her desire to meet Trump for their ABC debate on Sept. 10 and praised Walz, who has faced questions about his military record.
Conservative commentators expressed bemusement at what they considered "softball" questions from the media. However, Graham believes Trump and Vance's pressure on the issue played a role.
Kamala Harris Breaks Weeks-Long Silence, Faces Questions on Debate Performance
"Trump's press conference surely forced the issue," Graham said. "J.D. Vance strolling over to Kamala's traveling press corps on the tarmac in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to joke about how they looked ‘lonely’ must have had an effect."
Semafor's Dave Weigel suggested that reporters' silence about Harris' press avoidance may be due to her frequent off-the-record conversations with traveling media on her campaign plane. This allows her to foster relationships and disseminate talking points without public scrutiny.
Kamala Harris Breaks Weeks-Long Silence, Faces Questions on Debate Performance
Conservative radio host Jason Rantz questioned the media's role in holding Harris accountable. "The media didn’t suddenly notice Kamala wasn’t taking questions," Rantz told Fox News Digital. "They’re the ones who chose not to press her because they were too busy celebrating the campaign."
The Harris campaign defended its strategy, prioritizing reaching voters in an impactful way. "With under 90 days to go, the Vice President’s top priority is earning the support of the voters who will decide this election," a spokesperson said.
Despite Harris' efforts to answer questions, her remarks were met with mixed reactions. Some praised her willingness to engage, while others criticized the brevity and superficiality of her responses.
