Marc Benioff, the owner of Time magazine, called out Vice President Kamala Harris for refusing multiple interview requests as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up. Benioff, who acquired Time in 2018, pointed out that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden granted interviews during their campaigns, but Harris has yet to follow suit.
Benioff’s call for transparency
On Sunday, Benioff expressed his frustration via social media, noting the contrast between Harris and other candidates. “Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate,” he tweeted, emphasizing the importance of transparency. He questioned why Harris was not engaging with the public in the same manner as her counterparts, using hashtags like #TrustMatters and #TransparencyMatters.
Harris’ media preferences spark debates
According to a Time profile published online last Friday, Harris has favored appearances on local media outlets, cultural podcasts, and talk shows over more traditional news platforms. Journalist Charlotte Alter highlighted that while Trump and Biden each sat down for extended interviews with Time, Harris had shown little interest in engaging with the publication.
In recent weeks, Harris has appeared on a variety of entertainment-oriented platforms, including The View, the podcast Call Her Daddy, The Howard Stern Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Her only appearance on a serious news program was on 60 Minutes last Monday.
Criticism for favoritism grows stronger
Despite declining interview requests, Time came under fire in August for publishing a positive profile of Harris, even after she refused to engage with the magazine. As the election nears, questions about Harris’ selective media strategy continue to arise, with critics questioning her commitment to transparency and public engagement.
