Democrat nominee Kamala Harris has agreed to a pre-taped CNN interview accompanied by her running mate Gov. Tim Walz (Minn.) that will air Thursday at 8 pm CST.
Harris’s first major sit-down interview since replacing Joe Biden as the Democrat nominee 37 days ago will be conducted by CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor Dana Bash.
“The interview will present Harris with the first chance to elucidate her position on various domestic and foreign issues during a campaign that has so far been heavy on vibes but light on concrete policy. She will also have a chance – if she chooses – to explain how her positions might differ from Biden,” CNN reported Tuesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sit with CNN for an exclusive first joint interview since launching presidential campaign https://t.co/R85yogk2Id
— CNN (@CNN) August 27, 2024
CNN acknowledged that Harris has had trouble with interviews in the past.
Previous major interviews have presented a challenge for Harris. During a 2021 sit-down with NBC’s Lester Holt, Harris responded with annoyance when asked why she had not visited the US-Mexico border as part of her assignment to investigate root causes of migration from Central and South America.
“At some point, you know, we are going to the border,” Harris said in the interview. “We’ve been to the border. So, this whole, this whole, this whole thing about the border. We’ve been to the border. We’ve been to the border.”
Holt responded: “You haven’t been to the border.”
“I, and I haven’t been to Europe. And I mean, I don’t – I don’t understand the point that you’re making,” Harris said with a laugh. She added: “I’m not discounting the importance of the border.”
Many on social media criticized the fact that Harris’s first major interview since becoming the Democrat nominee won’t be conducted live and won’t be 1-on-1.
The woman who wants to be the first female president of the United States can’t do an interview on her own? Interesting…and embarrassing.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) August 27, 2024
Having Walz w her also cuts in half, if not more, the amount of time she would normally be expected to engage. Walz will talk to run out the clock, he'll interrupt to save her, and push back on Bash if she strays into real journalism. Pathetic yes, also confirms Harris cannot… https://t.co/EU01Vuc5Zu
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) August 27, 2024
Why did CNN agree to do a pre-taped interview with Harris and Walz instead of going live?
And why isn't Harris doing this solo?
Dana Bash will conduct the interview, the same "anchor" who insisted recently that Harris wasn't the Border Czar.
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) August 27, 2024
Is Kamala not competent enough for a one-on-one interview?
— Mayson Burch (@anticatlady) August 27, 2024
Please explain. 1. why it isn’t live. 2. why does Walz need to be there? Hold hands.?
— LionsGoBlue (@GoBlueTherapy) August 27, 2024
So now Kamala Harris isn’t even capable of doing an interview by herself?
What a joke.
— Real Defender
(@real_defender) August 27, 2024
Imagine these two idiots being interviewed at once.
Softball questions.
— MatthewJshow (@MatthewJshow) August 27, 2024
She needs Tim to hold her hand? The woman is a joke.
— Mary
Hahahaha she’s too afraid to do one alone!
— FedUpLineman (@Floridaliberty1) August 27, 2024
Kamala Harris’ first interview is a joint interview? She can’t handle the pressure of doing it alone? You can’t make this stuff up folks.
— Amerinder Khatra (@AmerinderKhatra) August 27, 2024
She can’t even take an interview by herself… wow
— Timmy Fairview
Staged interview
— NAKURU MAYOR (@Morgan_ke1) August 27, 2024
Kamala is not competent to do one without tampon Tim?
and why is this not live??? Fake ass crap from Dems as usual
— CSA
This is probably for the same reason that Harris’s campaign asked for her to be able to have pre-written notes on hand for the upcoming presidential debate against GOP nominee Donald Trump.
