Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have sat down for at least 49 interviews since the Harris-Walz ticket was formed, compared to just 10 non-scripted interviews for the Democratic presidential ticket thus far.
Vice President Kamala Harris was interviewed by Action News 6 ABC on Friday in Philadelphia, marking only her fourth formal interview as a candidate. The interview came on the heels of a report that her campaign is looking for her to do more local interviews in swing states like Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Trump was interviewed by Fox News anchor Trace Gallagher in a conversation that aired Friday evening.
Vance did interviews with CNN, Fox News and ABC in the aftermath of Tuesday’s ABC News Presidential Debate between Trump and Harris, and he also appeared on Fox News’ “The Story” on Wednesday. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke with MSNBC and ABC after the debate, marking just his fourth and fifth solo interviews since joining the Democratic ticket last month, and he spoke with Michigan station Fox 17 on Friday.
Trump joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the debate for an interview, where he said he felt the ABC debate was “three on one” in criticism of moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. He also joined “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday morning to react to the debate.
From left: Former President Trump, his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. (Getty Images)
Harris and Walz ended their extended interview drought last month when they talked with CNN’s Dana Bash in Georgia after weeks of stonewalling the media.
Harris also taped two radio interviews last week with Uforia, the audio network of TelevisaUnivision, and Rickey Smiley, host of the nationally syndicated “Rickey Smiley Show.” The Uforia interview aired last week, while the Smiley interview was delayed until Monday due to what the campaign reportedly called “technical difficulties.”
Walz also spoke last week to WCMU radio in Michigan, in addition to speaking with “The Morning News with Nancy Kman and Jason Barsky” on WILK in Pennsylvania, and “The Chad Holmes Show” on WXCO in Wisconsin.
Since Aug. 6, Trump has spoken with Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin” host Mark Levin, NBC News, the Daily Mail, Dr. Phil, Fox News’ Alicia Acuna, Hugh Hewitt Radio, FOX Business, podcaster Theo Von, the New York Post, WBRE News Wilkes-Barre, WLOS News 13 Asheville, Univision, and “Fox & Friends.” He’s also made at least two other cable news appearances and sat down with supporter Elon Musk for a lengthy conversation, according to a Fox News Digital review.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with Philadelphia’s 6 ABC anchor Brian Taff on September 13, 2024. (Screenshot/6 ABC Philadelphia)
The former president also sat down with podcaster Lex Fridman and a New Hampshire radio show, in addition to a town hall earlier this month with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Vance, who has been critical of Harris dodging the press, has spoken to “Fox & Friends,” “The Ingraham Angle,” CNN’s John Berman, WBAY2, News 5 Cleveland, NBC News, “Meet the Press,” “No Spin News,” WALB 10, “CBS Evening News,” “The Brett Winterble Show,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Fox News Sunday,” “The Dan O’Donnell Show,” ABC’s “This Week,” CBS’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Union” since early August.
He was interviewed by CNBC on Thursday and has also sat for interviews with The Shawn Ryan Show, the All-In podcast and supporter Charlie Kirk.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris on the day of a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., September 11, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Harris still has not held a formal press conference since replacing President Biden as the Democratic nominee. Trump took questions at a news conference on Friday in California, his third extended presser in recent weeks.
USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page believes Americans deserve to hear both candidates answer tough questions.
“I think part of the job description of being president is answering questions, not because reporters have a right to ask them, but because Americans have a right to hear them,” Page told Fox News Digital.
“One of the major ways we do that is through interviews and through news conferences. And anybody who is running for president, I think should have the expectation that they’re gonna do interviews and news conferences, although they can also do public town halls and other things where they have a chance to talk to Americans,” she continued. “You need to communicate, connect with and answer questions of voters if you expect them to vote for you and if you expect them to follow you when you’re governing.”
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This report has been updated with additional interviews from both tickets.
Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
