After being told he wasn’t allowed to ask about Israel/Palestine and Harris pivoted to bacon (a pork product that most Muslims don’t eat), a Muslim Tik Toker opted not to air his interview with the vice president.
Fox News reports:
Kareem Rahma, host of the popular “Subway Takes” which boasts almost a million combined followers on Instagram and TikTok, made the decision to scrap the interview with Harris, which was filmed over the summer, he told the New York Times.
The incident occurred when Harris sat down for an interview with a Muslim social media star, who insisted on discussing the ongoing conflict on the Middle East. However, the Harris campaign shot down his repeated requests, instructing the interviewer that Israel, Palestine, and any related questions were strictly off-limits.
Instead, the campaign agreed that Harris would offer a “hot take” against people taking off their shoes on airplanes. The show’s premise revolves around guests, some of them notable, defending an unpopular opinion or perspective.
But instead of talking about the previously agreed upon material, Harris said that “bacon was a spice.”
Fox News continues:
Rahma then reportedly paused the interview to tell her he doesn’t eat pork, then attempted to redirect Harris to the agreed upon topic of taking off shoes mid-flight. But Harris doubled down with another food take, which the Times said was on the advice of a staffer, praising anchovies on pizza.
Two senior Harris campaign officials told the Times that Rahma had been told about the bacon topic in advance but Rahma and his manager disputed this. Still, the campaign reportedly apologized for the bacon reference and offered to reshoot, per the Times, but Rahma made the decision not to move forward.
Critics questioned the optics of avoiding serious discussions on a foreign policy crisis to talk about bacon, which they viewed as both inappropriate, ignorant and culturally insensitive.
Muslim American activists and journalists also voiced their frustration with how the campaign handled the interview. Many expressed dismay over the fact that the Vice President, who holds a prominent position in American politics, had been so evasive on an issue that impacts not just the U.S. but the entire Muslim world.
Harris’s refusal to discuss the topic could further alienate a key demographic that feels the administration has not adequately addressed their concerns.
Trump has made historic inroads with Muslim Americans, gaining endorsements from key leaders throughout his campaign, while many Muslim Democrats have withheld endorsements of Harris over the administration’s handling of Israel/Palestine.
Adding to the controversy, Vice President Kamala Harris has been criticized for airing conflicting campaign ads in key swing states, further complicating her position on the conflict. In Michigan, where a significant Muslim American population resides, Harris’s campaign aired an ad emphasizing her support for the Palestinian people and advocating for an end to the violence. However, in Pennsylvania, home to a large Jewish community, a different ad was broadcast that strongly affirmed her unwavering support for Israel and its right to defend itself. The contrasting messages in these ads have sparked accusations of political pandering and inconsistency, with critics claiming that Harris is trying to appeal to different voter groups without offering a coherent or principled stance on the crisis. This strategy has left many questioning her true position, as her campaign appears to be tailoring its message to suit the sensitivities of different audiences, rather than taking a firm stance on one of the most relevant issues on the international stage.
Harris is very picky about what questions can be asked. Than when she does allow a questions you may get a very long “answer” that has nothing to do with the question. She really likes those “word salads” when she talks for a very long time but actually says nothing. I cannot imagine her representing the U.S. on the world stage. How the heck could she ever participate in negotiations when she starts babbling but never says anything about the subject being discussed.