Eighteen days after Vice President Kamala Harris took over the top of the Democratic election ticket, reporters were finally able to ask her questions directly.
But many slammed the missed opportunity as the Democratic presidential nominee delivered what some saw as talking points rather than in-depth responses. Harris was asked about debating her opponent, former President Donald Trump, about doing a sit-down interview and the controversy surrounding her running mate’s military service.
The encounter with the VP on the tarmac at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport came after Trump had conducted a press conference Thursday and Harris was asked about debating the GOP nominee.
“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on September 10,” she said but would not commit to any further debates, saying she “would be happy to have that conversation.”
After nearly two weeks of headline-making events, Harris still has not done a one-on-one interview with a media outlet since President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid and handed her the baton. Asked when Americans can finally see her answering questions in a formal interview, the vice president essentially said more time is needed.
“I’ve talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month,” she said.
Kamala says she might possibly maybe do an interview sometime before the end of the month (23 days from now).
She hasn’t done a single interview or press conference since she was installed as the Democrat nominee 18 days ago. pic.twitter.com/xBZfGbTl2g
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 8, 2024
When Harris was asked about the accusations against her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and questions about his military record, she delivered an empty response.
“Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country. And I think that we all should,” she said in a generic answer that did not address the controversy.
Throwing a bone to reporters after 18 days of dodging the media may have pleased the campaign and Democrat supporters, but many called out the inadequate responses on social media.
“Peak journalism is that when you finally get a chance to ask the candidate a question you ask about when they will take more questions,” Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias wrote.
Look at the questions these morons asked https://t.co/rQsQ1Kw21k
— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) August 8, 2024
Those aren’t questions. Those are talking points. pic.twitter.com/p0O1D6lBAi
— Savannah (@BasedSavannah) August 8, 2024
Trump did a 75 minute presser.
— ACLC ✝️ⓣ (@MapexMasterDrum) August 8, 2024
So she’s gonna burn another 3 weeks before having an interview or press conference?
— BoredClint.eth (@BoredClint) August 8, 2024
Did you ask her about her policies? How she was going to fix the economy? What was she going to do about inflation and talk about the recession that’s headed our way? Anything like that?
— Mary (@mlh247) August 9, 2024
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She won’t talk about the #BorderCrisis or the abandoning of #Israel ; you think she cares about the #StolenValor of her VP?
— me (@I_Might_B_Right) August 8, 2024
