Meghan McCain Criticizes Kamala Harris for Joint Interview, Ignites Debate on Running Mate Appearances
Lou Rocco/ABC, via Getty Images
Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, recently joined the chorus of conservatives criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for conducting her first post-convention interview alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Critics like McCain argue that Harris’s decision to appear with Walz suggests she isn’t “ready” for prime time or capable of handling the press on her own.
Taking to X, McCain expressed her concerns, stating, “I don’t know if Democrats fully realize how damaging the image of the possible first woman president being incapable of giving an interview alone without the presence of a man to help her is.”
However, this criticism overlooks a longstanding tradition in American politics where presidential candidates from both parties often bring their running mates to post-convention interviews. This practice is not exclusive to Harris and Walz but has been a common approach for many campaigns.
MSNBC contributor and podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen responded to McCain with a simple retort, “Okay, Meghan,” accompanied by a photo of her father, John McCain, alongside his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, during their first major interview together.
Another account, “Bad Fox Graphics,” pointed out the irony in McCain’s criticism, asking, “You mean like the image of this interview of the possible first woman vice president being incapable of giving an interview alone without the presence of your father, Meghan?”
Historical precedent supports this practice. Former President Donald Trump, for instance, brought his running mate, Mike Pence, along for a “60 Minutes” interview shortly after announcing his candidacy, where Trump famously told reporter Leslie Stahl, “I think I’m much more humble than you would understand.” Similarly, other candidates like George W. Bush with Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton with Al Gore, Hillary Clinton with Tim Kaine, Barack Obama with Joe Biden, and Mitt Romney with Paul Ryan all participated in joint interviews with their running mates.
Most recently, Trump conducted his first interview with his current running mate, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), on Monday, July 22. The Harris-Walz interview, which aired on CNN Thursday at 9 p.m. EST, continues to stir debate over the optics of running mate appearances, though history suggests it’s a common and strategic choice rather than a sign of weakness.
