As the 2024 presidential election intensifies, Marc Benioff, owner of Time magazine, has publicly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for declining multiple interview requests. Benioff took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration, noting that Harris' refusal stands in stark contrast to the willingness of other presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, to sit down with the publication. His comments have sparked debates about transparency and public engagement as Harris campaigns for the highest office in the land.
Benioff, who has owned Time since 2018, posted that the magazine had requested several interviews with Harris, but all were turned down. "We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full," Benioff stated. He emphasized that Time had previously published extensive conversations with both Trump and Biden, but the vice president had remained elusive, a move that has led to criticisms about her approach to media relations.
#ComradeKamala is a Plagiarist😩. Her Book is going to bomb🙈. Why?? Who is Guiding her?? She keeps shooting herself in the foot. Both feet. pic.twitter.com/KH9jqDYSrf
— NotYourBankersHome (@Legalator) October 14, 2024
Harris, who is vying to become the first female president of the United States, has opted for a media strategy that focuses on more controlled environments. Her recent appearances have been on talk shows and cultural podcasts, including The View, Call Her Daddy, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where the tone is often lighter and less policy-driven. Critics argue that by avoiding tougher interviews with major news outlets like Time, she is limiting her exposure to rigorous scrutiny.
This issue has not gone unnoticed by Republican circles. Hedge fund manager and prominent Republican donor Bill Ackman weighed in on the controversy, stating that Harris’ refusal to engage with a major publication like Time was telling. He echoed Benioff's concerns about transparency, further igniting a debate about whether Harris is avoiding challenging questions as Election Day looms.
While Kamala Harris is throwing the race card and white shaming, Taiwan and China are close to war, and Israel and Iran are at war.
They are evacuating the embassy in Beruit, Lebanon right now.
Harris is a POS. I said what I said.
Source: US Embassy .gov pic.twitter.com/zxZy2pSWqU
— The Constitutionalist 🇺🇸 (@WeWillBeFree24) October 14, 2024
Despite the backlash, Harris' campaign remains strong, with her focusing on swing states and voter outreach. However, her selective media strategy has not gone unnoticed. Critics from both sides of the aisle have pointed out that, while her avoidance of certain media outlets might shield her from difficult questions, it also raises concerns about how she plans to communicate with the broader public if elected.
Benioff's comments come at a critical time as Harris has been trailing behind Trump in several key battleground states. Polls show her support weakening, particularly among independent voters, a demographic that could prove decisive in the November election. Some analysts suggest that Harris' reluctance to engage with more serious media outlets might contribute to these slipping numbers, as voters look for deeper insight into her policy positions.
Time magazine had previously published a feature on Harris in August 2024, which was generally favorable but did not include an in-depth interview. In the article, Time noted that Harris had declined to sit down with the magazine, a decision that contrasts with her more open approach during the 2020 campaign, when she was Biden's running mate. At that time, Time named Biden and Harris their "Person of the Year," highlighting their promise to "change the American story".
With less than a month to go before the election, the pressure is mounting on Harris to demonstrate her leadership and engage with a wider audience. While her team insists that her media appearances have been substantive, the refusal to grant an interview to a major publication like Time has raised doubts about her strategy and willingness to face tough questions.
