"We believe in transparency" - Time magazine owner critiques Kamala Harris for allegedly declining interview requests

TIME magazine owner calls out Kamala Harris for turning down interviews (image via @kamalaharris on Instagram)
TIME magazine owner calls out Kamala Harris for turning down interviews (Image via @kamalaharris on Instagram)

Marc Benioff, owner of Time Magazine, called out Vice President Kamala Harris for turning down multiple interview requests from the publication. In an X tweet published on October 14, 2024, Marc, while criticizing the Democratic nominee, said,

"Despite multiple requests, TIME has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris - unlike every other Presidential candidate. We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn't the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level? #TrustMatters #TransparencyMatters #Leadership."

Marc posted one of TIME's profile pieces published on October 10, 2024, which also raised this issue:

"Harris 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 a similar length before dropping out of the race."

Personalities react to Marc Benoiff's tweet against Kamala Harris

After Marc Benoiff slammed Kamala Harris on X for turning down multiple interview requests by TIME Magazine, American hedge fund manager and Republican Party supporter Bill Ackman, while reposting Benoiff's post, noted that Harris is the "first presidential candidate in my lifetime" who "repeatedly declines to be interviewed for a story."

In the feature piece published by TIME on October 10, writer Charlotte Alter noted that Kamala Harris only does interviews with local media, culture podcasts, or friendly talk shows. Alter's response refers to Harris' appearance on The View, the podcast Call Her Daddy, The Howard Stern Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

This isn't the first time Kamala Harris has been called out for turning down interview requests. In August 2024, the Vice President held a brief conference with reporters outside Air Force Two at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. As per the transcripts, Harris answered six questions in not more than two sentences. When a reporter questioned her when she'll be sitting down for her first interview since being the nominee, Harris responded by saying:

"I've talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month."

Her response raised eyebrows amongst reporters and voters since early voting began in Pennsylvania on September 16 and September 20 in Minnesota, Vermont, and Virginia.

Harris held an impromptu Q and A session after a rally in Michigan, which lasted 70 seconds. While addressing Harris' lack of show at interviews in a discursive news conference in August 2024 in Florida, Trump mentioned that Harris isn't "smart enough to do a news conference."

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala