Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to avoid reporters' questions by wearing headphones over her ears as she boarded a flight from Andrews Air Force Base on Monday, according to a C-SPAN video.
According to a caption on the video, Harris was boarding a flight at Joint Base Andrews. The Democratic presidential candidate is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday. She briefly waved to reporters asking questions from the tarmac, then turned her back to them as she boarded the plane, according to the video.
Kamala Harris leaves Joint Base Andrews for Detroit, Michigan. pic.twitter.com/QQY9UiXlQL
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 2, 2024
Video showed her waving to reporters and then walking up the steps to the plane, with wired headphones connected to her cell phone tucked deep into her ears. (Related article: “She wasn't made for this”: White House staff slander Harris in book)
Conservative commentators criticized the move as an attempt to avoid reporters' questions at a time when Harris has spoken little to the press during the campaign.
“Kamala Harris is currently wearing headphones and avoiding the press, the first original move I've seen from her campaign,” conservative commentator Gillian Anderson wrote on the platform.
Kamala Harris is currently wearing headphones and avoiding the press, which is the first original move I've seen from her campaign.
— Gillian Anderson (@Jillie_Alexis) September 2, 2024
“You'd think that a woman running for the highest public office in the nation would find value in speaking to the American people,” Trump surrogate Mike Crispi also wrote.
Kamala Harris “wears headphones” to avoid speaking to the press. You'd think a woman running for the highest office in the country would see value in speaking to the public… but I dunno. pic.twitter.com/JwS8H1MW3Q
— Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispi) September 2, 2024
Critics have criticized Harris for rarely appearing in the media. Thursday's joint CNN interview with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was her first since President Biden dropped out of the race in late July and endorsed Harris.
