Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to sit for another primetime interview on Wednesday, this time with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle — who just a few days earlier had argued that voters had no right to expect Harris to answer the tough questions prior to the presidential election.
MSNBC Public Relations shared the news via X, saying, “JUST ANNOUNCED: @VP Harris will join @MSNBC host @SRuhle in Pittsburgh for her first one-on-one network interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Watch the full interview tonight at 7pmET on MSNBC.”
JUST ANNOUNCED: @VP Harris will join @MSNBC host @SRuhle in Pittsburgh for her first one-on-one network interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
Watch the full interview tonight at 7pmET on MSNBC.
— MSNBC Public Relations (@MSNBCPR) September 25, 2024
“What a joke,” Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) responded to the news, adding, “@SRuhle said last week that Kamala doesn’t need to answer questions about her policy positions. Kamala then swiftly schedules a fake ‘interview’ with her. At what point will the legacy media demand more, like maybe a press conference? She is running for President.”
What a joke.@SRuhle said last week that Kamala doesn't need to answer questions about her policy positions
Kamala then swiftly schedules a fake “interview” with her
At what point will the legacy media demand more, like maybe a press conference?
She is running for President. https://t.co/scrAHBOyOF pic.twitter.com/FYqZnUiLVa
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) September 25, 2024
Schmitt was referencing Ruhle’s recent appearance on comedian Bill Maher’s HBO show, where she defended Harris — despite her steadfast refusal to answer difficult policy questions — essentially arguing that it didn’t matter as long as she met the most important qualification: not being former President Donald Trump.
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“Kamala Harris is not running for perfect, she is running against Trump. We have two choices. There are some things that you might not know her answer to. And in 2024, unlike in 2016, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is, and the kind of threat he is to democracy,” Ruhle told host Maher and NYT panelist Bret Stephens last week.
“The problem that a lot of people have with Kamala is that we don’t know her answer to anything,” Stephens protested at the time.
“But you know his answer to everything,” Ruhle pushed back — despite the fact that she herself, during that same appearance, had repeated the false claim that Trump was behind and in favor of implementing The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.
“Lol she said last week that Kamala doesn’t need to answer questions about her policy positions and the campaign immediately jumped to do an interview with her,” communications strategist Greg Price added.
Lol she said last week that Kamala doesn't need to answer questions about her policy positions and the campaign immediately jumped to do an interview with her. https://t.co/y7DMEUQKor pic.twitter.com/fEOkbsYVCs
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 25, 2024
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro was on the same page, saying, “Ruhle: Kamala doesn’t need to answer tough questions. Kamala: Hey, would you like to interview me?”
Ruhle: Kamala doesn't need to answer tough questions.
Kamala: Hey, would you like to interview me? https://t.co/RxA1QwJsMa
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 25, 2024
“So ‘full interview’ means no edits will be made whatsoever, correct?” Fox News contributor Joe Concha asked for clarity on the situation.
So "full interview" means no edits will be made whatsoever, correct? https://t.co/5kGwsnfKUi
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) September 25, 2024
Senator JD Vance (R-OH), who is campaigning to be vice president alongside former President Donald Trump, also weighed in: “This is legitimately pathetic for a person who wants to be president. Ruhle has explicitly endorsed Harris. She won’t ask hard Qs. Kamala runs from tough questions because she can’t defend her record. If you want open borders and high groceries, vote for status quo Kamala.”
This is legitimately pathetic for a person who wants to be president.
Ruhle has explicitly endorsed Harris. She won't ask hard Qs.
Kamala runs from tough questions because she can't defend her record.
If you want open borders and high groceries, vote for status quo Kamala. https://t.co/1JjGPHyOgo
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 25, 2024