White House Photographers Scorch Harris For Limiting Access

It seems that the mainstream media may be starting to shift its tone regarding Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Since being named the party’s presidential candidate, Harris has largely avoided the press. She has given very few interviews, held no press conferences, and has remained mostly inaccessible to reporters. So far, she has participated in only two interviews—one being a joint appearance with her vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and the other with a local Philadelphia TV network.

One mainstream media outlet has expressed frustration over Harris’s lack of press engagement. According to Axios, the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) has voiced concerns about the limited access for media photographers on Air Force Two.

WHNPA President Jessica Koscielniak wrote a letter to senior members of Harris’s campaign on August 28, raising the issue after learning that “the four independent news photographer seats have been downgraded to one” on the vice president’s plane, Air Force Two. Koscielniak suggested that Harris’s campaign either add a “chaser plane” or reconsider the seating arrangements to accommodate more photographers.

Doug Mills, a veteran White House photographer, shared his frustrations with Axios, explaining that having fewer photographers on trips puts them “at a distinct disadvantage” and makes it harder to capture diverse perspectives on events. "It’s essential to us for people to understand the importance of having a full photographer pool," Mills said.

Despite the WHNPA’s efforts, the vice president’s campaign did not respond to the letter. However, Axios reported that after reaching out for comment, they were told that the campaign had “been in constant communication with the Chair of the White House Correspondents’ Association as the Office worked to explore solutions to increase press access.” Still, the campaign concluded that the proposed solutions were "not viable" due to personnel and aircraft limitations.

“This is the smallest number of media to travel for a presidential race in my memory,” Mills said, expressing disappointment that the situation had not been resolved.

Harris’s reluctance to engage with the press may stem from her struggles with interviews. In a recent conversation with 6ABC Philadelphia’s Action News, Harris was asked about her plans to improve affordability for Americans. Instead of providing policy specifics, she reflected on her upbringing in a middle-class family and emphasized the symbolic importance of well-maintained lawns.

Harris recounted her childhood, saying, “I grew up a middle-class kid. My mother raised my sister and me. She worked very hard and finally saved enough to buy our first house when I was a teenager.” She went on to describe how her community of hardworking people, including construction workers, nurses, and teachers, valued their well-kept lawns. “I tried to explain to some people who may not have had the same experience,” she said, adding that lawns symbolized pride and dignity in her neighborhood.

However, her response missed the mark for many who expected more concrete solutions to address the economic challenges facing Americans, such as record inflation and rising interest rates under the Biden-Harris administration.