JD Vance Slams Kamala Harris for Avoiding Interviews, Calls Her Campaign a ‘Basement Campaign’

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance kicked off his multi-day tour of critical swing states on Tuesday, using the opportunity to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for her lack of media engagement since President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race and his endorsement of her as his successor.

Harris has not conducted in-depth interviews with major news outlets since taking over as the Democratic presidential nominee. While she has responded to a few shouted questions during her travels, she has avoided unscripted interactions with the press.

Vance said he was doing the press tour to answer questions from American people nationwide. AP

“Kamala Harris, our border czar, is asking the American people to make her the next president of the United States,” Vance stated at a campaign event. “Yet, for the past 16 days and counting, the American media has been unable to ask her a question.”

Vance contrasted his campaign approach with Harris’s, emphasizing his commitment to engaging with the media. “Agree or disagree with me and President Trump, nobody would dispute that we will go anywhere and talk to anyone,” the Ohio congressman added.

On Tuesday, Vance arrives in Hebron, Ky., during his whirlwind swing-state tour. AP

Harris has announced her swing-state tour, covering many critical battlegrounds as Vance, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. While Harris will accompany her newly selected vice-presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vance frames his tour as a media-focused endeavour.

“She is running a basement campaign where she refuses to go before the free press and answer their questions,” Vance said during his rally. “What kind of election can you have if your presidential candidate won’t answer the tough questions?”

Kamala Harris addresses the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s Biennial Boule at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Texas last month. ZUMAPRESS.com

Vance’s rally in Philadelphia focused on criticisms of the Biden-Harris administration’s open-border policies, with speakers from Pennsylvania sharing personal stories of how drug trafficking has affected their families.

Attendees like Dorett Jackson, 65, and Dawn Rhodes, 62, expressed their interest in hearing Vance’s policies firsthand. “We know what we’ve seen on television. You know he’s a senator. We know all of that and his background, but we wanted to hear him express his views,” Jackson said.

Brian Shine, 46, who works at a golf club in Phoenixville, Penn., voiced his support for Vance after being moved by the Netflix adaptation of Vance’s memoir, *Hillbilly Elegy*. Shine, who has struggled with financial issues, praised Vance for understanding the average American’s challenges.

“I’m working two jobs, and I can barely make ends meet,” Shine said. “It’s impossible to buy a house; it’s impossible to go on vacation. We put America last with Biden-Harris, and it’s not fair. It’s not right.”

The Harris campaign did not respond to a request for comment from The Post.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

See Full Bio