TIME Magazine Owner Criticizes Harris for Declining Interviews: ‘We Believe in Transparency’
By Jake Beardslee ·
October 15, 2024
TIME Magazine's owner Marc Benioff publicly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her refusal to grant interview requests to the publication.
Benioff highlighted this issue on social media, contrasting Harris's alleged lack of engagement with the more open approach of President Biden and former President Trump. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Benioff took to X to express his concerns, stating, "Despite multiple requests, TIME has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate. We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn't the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?" @Benioff / X
Benioff's comments came in response to a TIME feature story on Harris written by Charlotte Alter.
The article noted that Harris had declined multiple interview requests, in stark contrast to both President Biden and former President Trump, who had previously sat down with TIME for extensive conversations about their policies and viewpoints. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The TIME owner emphasized the importance of transparency by sharing full transcripts of interviews conducted with Trump and Biden earlier in the year. Salesforce / Wikimedia
While the article on Harris was generally favorable, it did include some critical observations.
Independent voter Rodrigo Lopez expressed skepticism in the article about Harris's political evolution, noting her shift from a left-wing stance in the 2020 Democratic primary to a more centrist position in her 2024 campaign. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alter pointed out that Harris has been selective in her media appearances, favoring local media outlets, culture podcasts, and friendly talk shows. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This approach has potentially limited her exposure to more rigorous questioning and in-depth policy discussions. Jovanny Hernandez / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alter's piece in TIME portrayed Harris as "more practical than ideological," based on interviews with current and former advisers, aides, and policy experts. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The article suggested that a Harris presidency would be an incremental change from the current administration, with some tonal differences in areas such as abortion rights, the situation in Gaza, and economic policies focused on housing and small businesses. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
