Vice President Kamala Harris boarded Air Force Two on Monday, noticeably avoiding questions from the press.
Harris, who is also a Democratic presidential candidate, used her cellphone and headphones as a strategy to dodge media inquiries.
As she ascended the steps of her official jet, Harris offered a brief salute, shook hands with a U.S. service member, and appeared to listen intently to her phone. She glanced back at reporters and waved, adjusting her headphones and holding her phone to her ear.
NBC News White House correspondent Mike Memoli commented on X, “She may not have been a senator long, but mastered the ‘Can’t talk, on a call’ play.”
Former Trump 2020 campaign communications director Tim Murtagh criticised the move on X, stating, “PRO TIP: When pretending to be on the phone when you walk past the press to your plane, do not plug in the headphones so others can see and ALSO HOLD THE PHONE TO YOUR EAR. This destroys the illusion and tells everyone you’re full of it … again.”
Kamala Harris departs Joint Base Andrews, headed to Detroit, Michigan pic.twitter.com/QQY9UiXlQL
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 2, 2024
Other reactions on social media included jabs at Harris’ attempt to avoid the press. Former Utah GOP Congressman Jason Chaffetz called her behaviour “fake,” while Breitbart reporter Elizabeth Weibel joked about her being too busy to answer questions.
Some users on X expressed concerns about what a Harris presidency might look like, citing her avoidance of press interactions as indicative of a lack of transparency.
Others mocked her for potentially using her phone to avoid uncomfortable questions, with one user humorously suggesting she might be listening to an audio recording about President Biden’s steps.
Harris did not address questions regarding the recent execution of six Israeli hostages by Hamas, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. She had previously commented on the situation in a Saturday statement, affirming her commitment to securing the release of hostages in Gaza.
Additionally, Harris did not respond to follow-up questions about her CNN interview last Thursday, where she faced criticism for deflecting questions on the economy, fracking, and U.S. military aid for Israel.
Harris has been known to prefer wired headphones over Bluetooth for security reasons, as reported by Politico in December 2021. Her use of wired headphones was also evident in a 2020 victory call video with President Biden.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump and Republican Vice presidential candidate JD Vance have participated in numerous interviews, with Trump having given at least 34, as reported by Fox News.
