Former President Donald Trump has canceled an interview with CNBC, making it the second time this month he has backed out of a mainstream press interview. The cancellation was announced by Joe Kernen, the co-anchor of “Squawk Box,” during a broadcast. Kernen mentioned that the network had also offered an interview to Vice President Kamala Harris, but she declined as well. A Trump campaign official cited a scheduling conflict as the reason for the cancellation, as Trump plans to be in Michigan on Friday. CNBC has not responded to requests for comment on the cancellation.
This recent cancellation follows Trump’s decision to pull out of an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” with Scott Pelley. Instead, Trump has been focusing on appearing on conservative outlets such as Fox News, Newsmax, and Real America’s Voice. He is also scheduled to participate in town halls with Fox News and Univision. A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign suggested that Trump backed out of the interviews because he was afraid of facing tough questions and being held accountable for his actions. With no further debates scheduled before the election, both Trump and Harris are utilizing nontraditional platforms, such as podcasts, to reach undecided voters.
Harris has also agreed to her first-ever interview with Fox News, sitting down with anchor Bret Baier for an interview set to air Wednesday evening. This marks a significant step for Harris, as she reaches out to a wider range of audiences beyond her typical base. The cancelation of interviews with mainstream press outlets like CNBC and “60 Minutes” suggests that Trump may be avoiding tough questions and prefers to appear on outlets where he is more likely to receive favorable treatment. This behavior has been criticized by Harris’s campaign, who suggest that Trump is not willing to engage in discussions with those who may challenge his views.
Despite the cancellations of mainstream press interviews, both Trump and Harris are continuing to engage with voters through various platforms. This includes town halls, podcasts, and interviews with different news outlets. Harris’s willingness to appear on Fox News shows her commitment to reaching across the aisle and engaging with a broader audience. It remains to be seen how Trump’s avoidance of mainstream press interviews will impact his campaign and his ability to persuade undecided voters. As the election approaches, both candidates are making strategic decisions about where and how to communicate their messages to voters.
