Pressure Intensifies on Harris to Host Formal Press Conference
It's been nearly a month since President Joe Biden stepped down from his reelection bid, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee. Despite growing calls for her to do so, Harris has yet to hold a formal press conference.
While she has been actively campaigning, delivering speeches at various events, and making informal remarks to reporters since stepping into Biden's role on the ticket, Harris has yet to conduct a formal press conference or a comprehensive interview.
Over this period, she has engaged in brief “gaggles” and off-the-record sessions with reporters on the campaign trail but has not participated in a formal press conference or a detailed interview. She turned down a formal interview request from TIME, despite being featured in a cover story titled “Her Moment” this week. Similarly, her running mate, Tim Walz, declined an interview request from the New York Times concerning his actions during the George Floyd riots in Minnesota.
“The left-leaning Washington Post editorial board criticized Harris for avoiding the media on Sunday, stating of her opponent, ‘at least he has taken questions.’ The Post argued she should address her numerous policy changes, including on fracking, border security, and private health insurance,” reported Fox.
CNN's John Berman pressed Harris's spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod about the vice president's reluctance to engage in interviews, suggesting that if Harris wanted to, she could make time. On the same day, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told Berman that Harris was dodging tough questions because her record was “indefensible.”
Last week, Harris finally addressed reporters for the first time — albeit briefly — while preparing to board Air Force Two at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport after a rally.
In response to concerns that she had not held a formal press conference or an in-depth interview since being declared the presumptive candidate, Harris said, “I’ve talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month.” She also mentioned the agreement she made with Trump to participate in at least one presidential debate before November 5.
“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10,” she commented, adding that she would be open to scheduling additional debates with the former president.
Trump announced on Thursday that he would participate in three debates next month on Fox News Channel, NBC, and ABC.
Harris also addressed Republicans who questioned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's military service after she selected him as her running mate on Tuesday.
“Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country,” she stated. “And I think that we all should.”
Republicans accused Walz of using “stolen valor garbage” to misrepresent his service credentials, which sparked the controversy.
Sports journalist and podcast host Stephen A. Smith has joined the chorus of voices urging Harris to grant interviews as the Democratic presidential nominee, emphasizing the importance of addressing “legitimate questions” from voters.
On his show on Wednesday, Smith stated his intention to vote for Harris over former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election, citing serious concerns about the Republican nominee. However, he commended Trump for his numerous interviews as a candidate and argued that Harris must also engage with the media to secure victory.
“The only damn place we’ve seen Kamala Harris is at pep rallies,” Smith remarked on his podcast. “What’s up? Somebody got to say something. And it can’t just be the conservatives; right is right! I’m talking to my sister here, come on now! You’re running for the presidency of the United States of America. You got my vote! You’re running for the presidency of the United States of America. What’re you hiding for?”