Former President Donald Trump has skipped some recent interviews with CNBC, NBC, and the Shade Room, a black-owned media outlet that could be critical to his effort to sway voters of color.
In the middle of a frenzied dash to the finish line 18 days away, Trump is seizing almost every opportunity he has to make his case to voters. But the handful of times he’s pumped the brakes on appearances has been attributed to the 78-year-old candidate being “exhausted,” according to Politico.
The Trump team is denying that allegation and throwing its weight behind the former president’s stamina and vigor.
“President Trump has been running laps around Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, engaging in far more interviews, hosting more events, and rallies with crowd sizes she could only dream about,” Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told the Washington Examiner. “President Trump has more energy, and a harder work ethic, than anyone in politics.”
The campaign also pointed to a Wall Street Journal article that shows the Republican nominee has made almost twice as many media appearances as Vice President Kamala Harris since Trump became the Republican nominee in July.
Harris has had little time to work her way back after Trump’s 32-day head start. He was nominated to be the GOP nominee on July 15, and Harris, who took over the campaign after President Joe Biden was pushed aside, received her party’s nomination on Aug. 6.
She was also slow out of the gates, spending most of her first month as the nominee laying low and avoiding unscripted interactions with journalists. As the deadline to convince voters to support her has neared, however, Harris has tried a media blitz of her own. The whirlwind tour has included several friendly podcasts and radio shows, though she did sit down with Fox News anchor Bret Baier earlier this week to try and prove her mettle to skeptics.
Even though Trump has declined some media appearances, he hasn’t halted his media schedule entirely. He took time on Friday morning, the day after he made remarks at the Al Smith Dinner, to make media appearances with Fox & Friends along with the Dan Bongino Show.
Trump on Fox & Friends this Morning pic.twitter.com/EwvIMdUh1X
— Karli Bonne’
(@KarluskaP) October 18, 2024
As for Trump’s canceled interview with the Shade Room, no date was ever discussed or set, according to the campaign. Harris did an interview with the Shade Room for an episode released Oct. 14.
“We declined a paid advertising opportunity with Shade Room and have been actively engaging in various earned media opportunities,” a Trump campaign adviser told the Washington Examiner. “President Trump had a long interview with Bloomberg this week and as the Wall Street Journal reported is outpacing Kamala Harris in interviews.”
The Harris campaign has used the report to attack Trump, asking him if he was “good” in a post on X.
The vice president’s campaign has often looked to draw on Harris’s relative youth compared to Trump as a campaign advantage.
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With 18 days until the election, both presidential candidates likely have numerous media appearances ahead of them. The last stretch of the race is often referred to as a test of endurance, one that could be even harsher with both Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in the closing weeks.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Shade Room and NBC for comment, but did not receive a response.