CNN found itself at the center of controversy on Thursday following a report that suggested the Trump-Vance campaign was attempting to “goad” Vice President Kamala Harris into giving media interviews as a strategy to “trip” her up. The article, which described the campaign’s efforts as part of a broader offensive against Harris, has sparked widespread ridicule and criticism on social media.
The report argued that the Trump campaign’s push for Harris to participate in a major media interview was an attempt to exploit what they perceived as her vulnerability in unscripted settings. “In another front of its emerging offensive against Harris,” the article read, “the Trump campaign cranked up the pressure on the vice president to do a major media interview, apparently hoping to goad her into a forum in which she’s historically been more vulnerable than when delivering scripted speeches.”
CNN’s piece further suggested that former President Donald Trump’s announcement of a press conference on Thursday was designed to create a stark contrast with Harris, highlighting her reluctance to engage with the press. The report noted, “Harris, especially early in her vice presidency, sometimes waffled in interviews and unscripted moments, and the Trump campaign sees this as a potential way to slow her strong start.”
CNN's lead story … the Trump campaign has a devious new plan … trying to goad Harris into a trap known as a "major media interview" pic.twitter.com/zlb0kAVGp8
— Maxim Lott (@maximlott) August 8, 2024
However, the analysis did not sit well with many commentators, who took to social media to mock CNN for what they perceived as an effort to shield Harris from scrutiny. Executive producer Maxim Lott sarcastically commented, “CNN’s lead story … the Trump campaign has a devious new plan … trying to goad Harris into a trap known as a ‘major media interview.’”
Mark Hemingway, a senior writer at RealClearInvestigations, questioned Harris’s qualifications for her role, tweeting, “If you’re ‘historically vulnerable’ doing a media interview, maybe you shouldn’t be responsible for negotiating with hostile foreign leaders?”
Tim Graham, executive editor of NewsBusters, added a humorous jab, “Can’t CNN interview her while they massage her feet?” Meanwhile, RealClearInvestigations editor-at-large Benjamin Weingarten criticized the media’s approach, stating, “The Media is The Regime’s PR arm.”
If you're "historically vulnerable" doing a media interview, maybe you shouldn't be the person responsible for negotiating with hostile foreign leaders? https://t.co/JZ2FrAN3QM
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) August 8, 2024
Former GOP lawmaker Ryan Costello expressed frustration with the lack of media accountability, writing, “What’s pathetic is that the media isn’t relentlessly doing it to her themselves, and calling her to task for running a heretofore vapid campaign. That used to be their job.”
The criticism was echoed by Charlie Harper, founder of GeorgiaPol.com, who noted, “Amazingly, the National Press/White House Press Corps are not demanding a sitting VP and nominee for President take their questions, but also are running interference to project any demand that she answer questions as a partisan plot.”
The Media is The Regime's PR arm https://t.co/IjJy2mhSDW
— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) August 8, 2024
Anthony Sacramone of the Acton Institute took the criticism a step further, questioning Harris’s ability to lead on the global stage, “The woman who wants to be the leader of the free world is too fragile to take questions from a sycophantic American press. So who’s going to protect her from China, Russia, Iran, and our allies? Who tells them it’s sexist/racist to ask rude policy questions?”
The controversy surrounding Harris’s media avoidance peaked on Thursday afternoon when she finally answered questions from reporters after an 18-day hiatus. However, the vice president’s interaction with the press lasted less than two minutes, leaving many wondering if the criticism will continue to mount as the Democratic National Convention looms just weeks away.