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No.

News reports generally confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris did not take questions from reporters in the 17 days after President Joe Biden ended his campaign, as Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

That same day, Politico reported that Harris talked with reporters off the record, but on the record has only spoken “on the tarmac, making statements but not taking questions.”

New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen wrote on Aug. 7 Harris going on the record “has not happened yet.” Other news outlets made similar reports.

On Aug. 8, Harris answered a few reporter questions.

Harris’ campaign cited three previous instances in which Harris replied to a shouted question.

Appearing with Biden Aug. 5, the day she officially became the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, Harris spoke to reporters for 45 seconds.

As of Aug. 9 she had not done a news conference.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

YouTube: JD Vance campaigns in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Politico: Why Harris isn’t taking questions

X: Lydia Polgreen post

Fox News: Kamala Harris has avoided interviews for more than two weeks since becoming Dem nominee

Fox News: CNN reporter questions if Kamala Harris’ lack of interviews is a ‘big mistake’

USA Today: Kamala Harris seems ‘unburdened’ by her lackluster past. She can thank the media for that

X: Monica Alba post

X: Eugene Daniels post

Google Docs: Kamala Harris pool reports

Face the Nation: Biden, Harris address prisoner swap after greeting freed Americans on tarmac

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Did Kamala Harris do a news conference or on-the-record interview in the two weeks after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race?

by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
August 9, 2024

<h1>Did Kamala Harris do a news conference or on-the-record interview in the two weeks after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race?</h1>
<p class="byline">by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch <br />August 9, 2024</p>

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<p><em><em><a href="https://www.wisconsinwatch.org/">Wisconsin Watch</a></em> partners with&nbsp;<a href="https://gigafact.org/">Gigafact</a>&nbsp;to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. <a href="https://wisconsinwatch.org/2023/05/how-wisconsin-watch-checks-claims-for-its-gigafact-fact-briefs/">Read our methodology</a> to learn how we check claims.</em></p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No.</h2>
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<p>News reports generally confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris did not take questions from reporters in the 17 days after President Joe Biden ended his campaign, as Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.</p>
<p>That same day, Politico&nbsp;reported&nbsp;that Harris talked with reporters off the record, but on the record has only spoken "on the tarmac, making statements but not taking questions.”</p>
<p>New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen wrote on Aug. 7 Harris going on the record "has not happened yet.”&nbsp;Other&nbsp;news&nbsp;outlets&nbsp;made similar reports.</p>
<p>On Aug. 8, Harris&nbsp;answered&nbsp;a few&nbsp;reporter questions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Harris’ campaign cited&nbsp;three&nbsp;previous instances in which Harris replied to a shouted question.</p>
<p>Appearing&nbsp;with Biden Aug. 5, the day she officially became the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, Harris spoke to reporters for 45 seconds.</p>
<p>As of Aug. 9 she had not done a news conference. </p>
<p><em>This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as <a href="https://youtu.be/KJNxGkcsQ_U?t=3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this one</a>.</em></p>
<p><strong>Sources</strong></p>
<p>YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/KJNxGkcsQ_U?t=31" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JD Vance campaigns in Eau Claire, Wisconsin</a></p>
<p>Politico: <a href="https://archive.is/HZksF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Harris isn’t taking questions</a></p>
<p>X: <a href="https://archive.is/IhpUX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lydia Polgreen post</a></p>
<p>Fox News: <a href="https://archive.is/IhpUX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kamala Harris has avoided interviews for more than two weeks since becoming Dem nominee</a></p>
<p>Fox News: <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6359988845112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNN reporter questions if Kamala Harris' lack of interviews is a 'big mistake'</a></p>
<p>USA Today: <a href="https://archive.is/PxJN6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kamala Harris seems 'unburdened' by her lackluster past. She can thank the media for that</a></p>
<p>X: <a href="https://x.com/albamonica/status/1821643639451480352" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monica Alba post</a></p>
<p>X: <a href="https://x.com/EugeneDaniels2/status/1821661677060018467" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eugene Daniels post</a></p>
<p>Google Docs: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/11jh5F-TXemvzGXWcmMDBXFQ6bGHxbAk-gCyv6SztZpw/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kamala Harris pool reports</a></p>
<p>Face the Nation: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm7SFecby1M" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden, Harris address prisoner swap after greeting freed Americans on tarmac</a></p>
</p></div>
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Did Kamala Harris do a news conference or on-the-record interview in the two weeks after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race?

No.

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