By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-12 15:53:32 | Updated at 2024-12-12 18:23:13
2 hours ago
Donald Trump spelled out some of the tactical blunders that he thinks rival Kamala Harris made in her failed election campaign against him – beginning with her decision to get in the race.
'Taking the assignment. Number one, because you have to know what you're good at,' Trump said, getting in a dig when asked about her worst mistakes in in interview with Time Magazine.
Then Trump, who flooded the zone with interviews –some friendly and some less-so – ripped Harris' media strategy. He faulted her for skipping traditional media interviews, as her campaign locked down during the first weeks after her stunning elevation as the candidate after Joe Biden stepped back following his debate disaster.
'I think they made a big tactical mistake by literally not talking to the press, even if a really friendly ... a friendly interview, and they turned everybody down. They wouldn't do the basic,' Trump said.
'And people, including me, would start to say, is there something wrong with her? What's wrong? Why wouldn't you do some basic interviews?'
'And then she had some pretty failed interviews, and maybe it was highlighted more than it would. In other words, if she did those same interviews, but she did another 15 interviews, you know, you wouldn't have really noticed it that much.'
Harris never held a formal press conference during her campaign. She did hold multiple informal 'gaggles' with the press, and some were off the record. After avoiding formal interviews for weeks, she held some high-profile ones, sitting down with '60 Minutes' in October, and giving interviews to MSNBC and CBS.
Trump – who would speak for 90 minutes or more at rallies and sat for some lengthy interviews – said the scarcity worked against her.
Donald Trump faulted rival Kamala Harris for shunning media interviews during a key period of the campaign
'I think that when she wouldn't talk to anybody, it shone a light on her ... And people said, Is there something wrong with her? Why would they? I mean, I'm doing this interview with you. I did interviews with, if I had the time, anybody that would ask, I'd do interviews.
'I think the Joe Rogan interview, you know, that went on for almost three and a half hours,' Trump said.
(Trump gave a three hour interview with the podcaster, which made him late for his outdoor rally in northern Michigan – then picked up Rogan's valuable endorsement).
Harris turned down an appearance with the popular podcaster, who has millions of followers, after talks broke down.
'I had a rally that I was two and a half hours late for in Michigan. It was very cold. And, you know, we didn't lose anybody,' he said, although supporters streamed out of the rally after an announcement that he would be hours late.
Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan and President-elect Donald Trump talk during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. Trump spoke of the importance of his interview with Rogan during the campaign, faulting Kamala Harris for insufficient media engagement
Trump shared his musings on a day he was taking yet another victory lap on the road to his second term. He was named Time's 'man of the year' – seizing an honor he received once before in 2016.
His affection for the magazine was such that he took framed covers with him to Mar-a-Lago that turned up in the classified documents probe. He also rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, appearing with wife Melania and daughters Ivanka and Tiffany. On Wednesday, FBI Director Chris Wray announced he would resign, sparing Trump from having to fire him after he takes office. And Senate Republicans have been going along even with controversial nominees.
