CNN's Jim Acosta asked Vice President Kamala Harris' communications director Michael Tyler why Harris was seemingly avoided media appearances since launching her campaign.
Acosta noted Harris has been the presumptive Democratic nominee for just over three weeks after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign during a Wednesday broadcast on the network.
“Would it kill you guys to have a press conference?” Acosta asked Tyler. “Why haven’t you had a press conference?”
Tyler laughed before pushing back on Acosta.
“Listen, the vice president and Governor Walz have been busy criss-crossing this country since the launch of this campaign and adding Governor Walz to the ticket, you saw the ways in which they went to — across the battleground states last week generating rallies of thousands, ten thousand here, 15 thousand there —” Tyler said before Acosta cut him short noting "a campaign rally is not a press conference." CNN: "Would it kill you guys to have a press conference?"
HARRIS SPOX: Kamala holds rallies so she can read from her teleprompter!
CNN: "A campaign rally is not a press conference."
HARRIS SPOX: "We're gonna be having a sit-down interview here before the end of the month."… pic.twitter.com/TaVI6qLGci
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 14, 2024
“Do you mind if I cut in? A campaign rally is not a press conference. Why hasn’t she had a press conference?" Acosta said. "She’s the vice president, she can handle the questions. Why not do it?”
Tyler insisted Harris would "absolutely" hold a press conference.
“You hear her take questions as she’s out on the stump, and she said last week, we’re going to be having a sit-down interview before the end of the month," Tyler said. "What she is going to be focused on and what this campaign is going to be focused on is communicating directly with the voters that are actually going to decide the pathway to 270 electoral votes.”
When Acosta asked if Harris could commit to a press conference this week, Tyler did not answer and instead mentioned planning a bus tour to Pennsylvania. Tyler then said Harris would speak with media by the end of the month.
“One interview by the end of the month,” Acosta repeated. “I don’t want to belabor this, but one interview by the end of the month, I mean, that’s not a lot. I mean, can you commit to a press conference before the end of the month?”
Tyler again avoided answering Acosta's question and insisted Harris would “directly engage with the voters who are going to decide this election.”
