Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has refused numerous interviews ahead of Election Day, and now she’s denying one to an outlet owned by a former Democratic presidential contender.
It was revealed Tuesday that Harris’s campaign rejected Bloomberg News’ proposal for an interview in addition to CNBC and Time Magazine.
The company was famously founded by former New York Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who ran in 2020 before dropping out to endorse Biden.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, participated in a town hall with Bloomberg Editor-In-Chief John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago on Tuesday afternoon where he spoke about his tariff plans, his relationship with Vladimir Putin and more.
The former NYC mayor may have outraged the Harris campaign by not immediately offering his full-fledged endorsement after Biden dropped out this summer. He has still yet to endorse Harris.
‘Democrats now have a chance for a fresh new start,’ Bloomberg wrote on X shortly after Biden bowed out of the race in July.
‘We don’t need to get a resolution right away, but we do need to get it right,’ Bloomberg said. ‘The decision is too important to rush, because the election is too important to lose.’
The news of Harris’s refusal came during a CNN segment where the host Boris Sanchez questioned Harris-Walz campaign spokesman Ian Sams over the VP’s media appearances.
The CNN anchor began highlighting Harris’s record, mentioning her absence at the Bloomberg event and her recent interview denials to Time Magazine and CNBC.
‘Now the Vice President was invited to appear with [CNBC] but declined, she also declined to be at that Bloomberg conversation,’ Sanchez said.
‘She also declined an interview with Time Magazine. Declining media hits really isn’t an indicator for mental fitness is it?’ he questioned the spokesman.
Sams had previously posted on X that Trump turning down a 60 Minutes interview and reportedly doing the same with CNBC could be an indication of his ‘mental acuity’.
The Democratic spokesman then claimed Harris is not afraid of combative interviews by pointing at her scheduled appearance on Fox News slated for Wednesday.
‘She’s out there taking questions from really tough corners,’ Sams reassured the host.
Harris is also facing the ire of Time’s owner after she refused to sit for an interview with the renowned news magazine.
Marc Benioff wrote of his disappointment on X, claiming Time Magazine has reached out several times for an interview with the presidential nominee.
‘Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other presidential candidate,’ the owner posted on Sunday.
Benioff included a link to interviews Time Magazine conducted with former President Donald Trump and President Biden when he was still running for reelection in 2024.
‘We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full,’ he added in the post. ‘Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?’
A Time article published on October 10 titled What Kind of President Would Kamala Harris Be? notes that the VP ‘declined repeated requests for an interview for this story.’
‘In contrast, Trump talked about his policy vision with a Time reporter for 90 minutes across two interviews. Biden spoke to Time at similar length before dropping out of the race,’ they added in that article.
The denouncement of Harris’ refusal to interview with the magazine comes as CBS News faces intense backlash for favorably editing its 60 Minutes interview with the candidate.
Critics have brought into question Harris’ media strategy ahead of the election.
The VP has engaged in some questionable interviews, like with the raunchy and sex-focused podcast Call Her Daddy.
And she has snubbed some more traditional interviews like with Time Magazine or legacy television outlets to instead appear on radio shows like with Howard Stern or Charlamagne Tha God, who she will sit down with in Detroit on Tuesday.
But, Harris has agreed to a select few traditional, sit-down interviews – like with 60 Minutes and with CNN, where she appeared alongside running mate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
While refusing a Time interview, Harris did pose for a photoshoot with Vogue, which published their glowing profile of the vice president on Friday. The magazine revealed a long narrative of what life is like for her ever since Biden dropped out and she took over his campaign.
Harris sat for an interview and participated in the shoot with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz at the vice president’s residence on October 7th.
The cover described Harris as ‘the candidate for our times’ and features her wearing a Gabriela Hearst suit and $800 Tiffany earrings.