US Vice President Kamala Harris has been criticized for her limited media engagement since she announced her presidential campaign in January, with only seven sit-down interviews given alongside running mate Tim Walz. In contrast, former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance have participated in 70 interviews and press conferences over the same period, as per a tally compiled by Axios.
When conversations with partisan allies are included in the count, Trump surges ahead of Harris, who has predominantly focused on scripted rallies to reach voters. Keisha Lance-Bottoms, one of Harris’ campaign advisers, explained her limited media presence by stating that she is “a very busy person,” and highlighted that she holds multiple roles as the Vice President and a presidential candidate.
Despite this explanation, criticism has persisted from both conservative and liberal pundits alike, with many questioning why Harris is avoiding unscripted appearances. The New York Times has been particularly vocal in its critique of her media strategy, while CNN commentator Scott Jennings criticized the Vice President for deliberately dodging “hostile media.
However, Harris’ campaign team firmly believes that “limiting interactions with the press is the right strategy – even if it frustrates reporters,” according to sources cited by Axios. A recent New York Times/Siena poll revealed that 31% of voters feel they don’t know enough about Kamala Harris, while only 12% are unsure of who Donald Trump is or where he stands on key issues.