Kevin O’Leary, the well-known co-star of “Shark Tank,” made a public plea on Monday for Vice President Kamala Harris to break her media silence. O’Leary criticized Harris for avoiding press interactions, which he believes hinders the public’s understanding of her economic policies and affects his investment decisions.
Since launching her presidential campaign in July, Harris has not participated in any interviews or press conferences. Her campaign website also lacks detailed policy outlines. On the show “Outnumbered,” O’Leary expressed his frustration with Harris’s media avoidance, emphasizing that transparent communication is crucial for making informed investment choices.
“Let’s be bipartisan for a moment, and let’s agree on one thing. There’s no scenario where the president of the United States can’t head up a press conference,” O’Leary stated. “She has to start talking to the press, period. There’s no optionality, there’s no scenario where anybody would be comfortable, particularly in the swing states for swing voters.”
O’Leary stressed the necessity for policy explanations to guide his investment strategy. “I need explanations for these policies because I have to invest on these policies. I have questions, and I don’t get any answers. I’m not being unreasonable. Come out, come out wherever you are, and talk to the press,” he added.
Recently, Harris proposed a federal ban on “price gouging” on groceries, which has faced significant criticism for its potential to be perceived as price fixing. Following this announcement, CNN anchor Julia Chatterley remarked that while the vice president’s economic agenda was appealing to voters, it was lacking in detail.
“I think this was a masterclass in sticking to the script, keeping things very voter-friendly, keeping the details incredibly light and not talking about how you have to pay for it all,” Chatterley noted. “If Donald Trump is sort of Harry Potter in terms of the magician for his policies, this was a bit Hermione Granger.”
Former Bill Clinton adviser Mark Penn also weighed in, arguing that Harris’s media shyness is detrimental to democratic principles as it leaves voters uninformed. “In my book, there should be three presidential debates, not one. There should be position papers, not a donate page on your website,” Penn said. “And you should be before the press every two or three days because if voters are not informed, then it’s not a democracy with real votes.”
The call for transparency and public engagement comes as Harris continues to navigate the complexities of her campaign. As the election season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Harris will heed these calls and provide the clarity that both the public and investors like O’Leary are seeking.