Vice President Kamala Harris has gone 61 days as the presumptive, and now, official Democratic nominee for president without holding an official press conference.
Under pressure to sit down for a substantive interview after weeks of stonewalling, Harris finally ended her interview drought last month in Georgia when she was joined by running mate Tim Walz for a pre-taped piece with CNN’s Dana Bash that was a far cry from a traditional press conference. She’s done more interviews since, including on Tuesday with the National Association of Black Journalists, and she made time to hang out with supporter Oprah Winfrey on Thursday at a star-studded campaign event.
Trump held his third news conference since the beginning of August last week in California, taking the opportunity to roast his opponent’s home state and hold forth on a number of topics, including crime, immigration and inflation.
BERNIE SANDERS SAYS HARRIS DROPPING FAR-LEFT POLICIES ‘IN ORDER TO WIN THE ELECTION’
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump during the debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Getty Images)
Harris sat for two taped radio interviews last week, and she gave her first solo television interview as the Democratic nominee last Friday in Philadelphia.
But as for when she’ll actually do a formal press conference, that day may never come, at least while she’s still a candidate.
Conservative Radio Libre host Jorge Bonilla feels Harris should do a press conference but said it’s almost “irrelevant” because she continues to get a pass.
“She is highly unlikely to do a press conference because the media have enabled and encouraged her ‘plexiglass basement’ strategy, wherein she preserves the illusion of being out there while remaining wholly inaccessible to the press and therefore unaccountable,” Bonilla told Fox News Digital.
Trump has sought to highlight the contrast in media availability between the two, sitting for several lengthy interviews in recent weeks, in addition to his three news conferences.
In her interview on Friday in Philadelphia, her answer citing her middle-class upbringing when asked about specifics of her economic policy drew sharp criticism.
Vice President Kamala Harris went viral with her response to a question about how she’d bring down prices in an interview with Philadelphia’s 6 ABC anchor Brian Taff. (Screenshot/6 ABC Philadelphia)
“You know, I grew up in a neighborhood of folks who were very proud of their lawn,” she said. “And I was raised to believe and to know that all people deserve dignity, and that we as Americans have a beautiful character. You know, we have ambitions and aspirations and dreams, but not everyone necessarily has access to the resources that can help them fuel those dreams and ambitions.
“So when I talk about building an opportunity economy, it is very much with the mind of investing in the ambitions and aspirations and the incredible work ethic of the American people and creating opportunity for people, for example, to start a small business.”
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Story tips can be sent to brian.flood@fox.com and on Twitter: @briansflood.