Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have developed a novel approach to dodge the media between campaign events, and it’s eliciting more head-scratching than admiration. Since being anointed as the unofficial Democratic Party presidential nominee back in July, she has faced a barrage of critiques from former President Trump and beyond, largely tied to her conspicuous silence towards reporters.
In just over 40 days since President Biden decided to stop seeking re-election, Harris has managed a stunningly scant record of one interview. This singular encounter has certainly raised eyebrows, particularly because it was conducted alongside her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, on the uncontroversial platform of CNN for a mere 18 minutes. When was the last time anyone believed less time spent with the press equated to more command over national issues?
Kamala is now wearing headphones & pretending to be chatting away to avoid press questions
Dumbest trick in the book – and she’s a terrible actress pic.twitter.com/vbTDCXXwDF
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) September 2, 2024
Strikingly absent are any solo interviews or formal press conferences from Harris since mid-July. Instead of engaging with the media, she has opted for a strategic retreat, perhaps borrowing tactics from a magician’s handbook on vanishing acts. She was recently spotted at Joint Base Andrews donned in headphones, seemingly in the mood to ignore the cacophony of reporters clamoring for her attention. With a half-hearted wave to the press, she raced up the steps to her awaiting airplane like someone late for an important Zoom call—though the only thing missing was a doorbell ringtone echoing through the speakers.
This amusing spectacle didn’t go unnoticed in the virtual sphere, as social media exploded with reactions to her apparent media evasion tactics. Some observers expressed their disbelief and frustration over the vice president’s lack of media savvy. One independent journalist highlighted her choice of headphones as a blatant indication of unfitness for the presidency. After all, hiding behind technology may prompt one to wonder what the media could possibly ask that would be worth avoiding with such fervor.
As if this refreshing approach to media interaction wasn’t enough, Harris’s campaign appears as confused as a cat at a dog show. She has yet to unveil a concrete policy platform, throwing out a few ideas like price controls on groceries and tax credits for first-time homebuyers without solidifying any meaningful details. To make matters juicier, her campaign has experienced a whiplash of flip-flops regarding vital Biden-Harris policies, including disagreements over the border wall and their previous electric vehicle mandates.
As this charade unfolds, Harris is scheduled to face off against former President Trump on September 10, albeit with whispers indicating she might back out. One can only hope she doesn’t show up sporting headphones for that debate—though it would certainly be in keeping with her recent behavior. If she’s going to continue this avoidance strategy, the next step might be to invest in a giant inflatable wall to block the press entirely.
