Vice President Kamala Harris has faced increasing scrutiny for not holding a formal press conference in 19 days since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
After President Biden’s endorsement on July 21, Harris secured the nomination last week. While she has been active on the campaign trail and provided informal remarks, she has yet to conduct a formal press conference or in-depth interview.
Harris briefly addressed reporters on Thursday in Michigan, where she expressed anticipation for her upcoming debate with former President Trump and defended her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. She indicated that her team is working to schedule a formal interview by the end of the month.
The absence of a formal press conference has drawn criticism from various quarters. GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has criticized the media for not pressing Harris to engage more thoroughly with the press, arguing that Harris is avoiding the rigorous scrutiny expected of a presidential candidate. Vance called for reporters to “show a little bit of self-awareness” and press Harris to fulfill her role.
National Review’s Noah Rothman highlighted the need for Harris to hold a press conference, noting that similar demands were made of President Biden during his campaign.
NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham expects Harris to follow the Biden campaign’s approach of avoiding extensive media interactions, which he believes undermines transparency and confidence. Graham criticized the contrast between the media’s treatment of Trump and the leniency afforded to Biden and Harris.
Oliver Knox of U.S. News & World Report agreed that Harris should face the press but acknowledged the risks associated with a press conference. He suggested that delaying a thorough Q&A session might increase the difficulty and intensity of future press interactions.
With the Democratic National Convention approaching on August 19 in Chicago, the pressure on Harris to engage more directly with the media is likely to intensify.