Vice President Kamala Harris has been the Democratic nominee for president for 103 days without having a formal press conference. During this time, former President Trump has held at least six news conferences where he answered questions from the media. Although Harris has participated in informal press gaggles while on the campaign trail, including criticizing Trump’s rally in New York City, she has not held an official press conference.
Harris recently gave a speech in Washington, D.C., outlining her vision for the United States and contrasting it with what she calls Trump’s radical and dark vision. She has also increased her media appearances by doing interviews with various news outlets and appearing on shows like “The View,” Stephen Colbert, and Howard Stern. Despite these appearances, Harris has yet to schedule a formal press conference as a candidate.
Conservative Radio Libre host Jorge Bonilla believes that Harris should hold a press conference but notes that the media have allowed her to avoid it, making it almost irrelevant. He criticizes what he calls her ‘plexiglass basement’ strategy, where she appears to be accessible while remaining inaccessible to the press.
While Trump has skipped some interviews recently, he did attend the annual Al Smith dinner, where presidential candidates typically give lighthearted roasts. Harris, on the other hand, chose not to attend and instead sent a video message. There has also been controversy surrounding an interview Harris did on “60 Minutes” due to the show’s editing choices regarding her answer to a question about Israel.
Despite the increased media appearances and interviews Harris has done, the lack of a formal press conference has raised questions about her accessibility and accountability. As the presidential campaign continues, it remains to be seen whether Harris will schedule a formal press conference or continue with her current media strategy.