Kamala Harris Campaign Setback: Kamala Harris presidential campaign hit a roadblock when internet show ‘Hot Ones’ declined interview request
Kamala Harris’ campaign faced a setback when the popular internet show ‘Hot Ones’ declined her interview request before the US presidential elections. The show, on air for nearly a decade, has never hosted a political candidate, according to the New York Post.
The show’s refusal to interview Harris was due to its non-political stance, as discussed by the Harris campaign team on a recent episode of the liberal-leaning ‘Pod Save America podcast’.
The discussion, which included campaign heavyweights like Chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon and advisors David Plouffe and Quentin Fulks, highlighted the challenges Harris faced in reaching mainstream, non-political platforms.
Stephanie Cutter, who managed media strategy for Harris, explained that ‘Hot Ones’, known for its celebrity interviews while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings, rejected the approach due to its policy of avoiding political figures. “They didn’t wanna do any politics, so they weren’t going to take us or [Trump],” she said, adding that this reaction was common from non-political media outlets.
However, President-elect Donald Trump had engaged with a variety of popular shows, tapping into cultural spaces Harris struggled to access.
Trump appeared on major platforms such as ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, comedian Theo Von’s ‘This Past Weekend’, and Barstool Sports ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’. His presence extended to internet live streams, including a session with streamer and Youtuber Adin Ross.
Harris’ team also shared issues with ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. Rogan had invited Harris to his studio, but the campaign reportedly asked him to travel for a short interview, which Rogan refused. David Plouffe claimed they were open to meeting Rogan’s terms but hinted the show may have given priority to Trump’s appearance.
While Trump used these platforms to reach a wider audience, Harris’ campaign struggled to connect culturally, contributing to their eventual loss.
