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Time Magazine Owner Speaks Out
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Time Magazine Owner Speaks Out

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce and owner of TIME magazine, publicly called out Vice President Kamala Harris on social media this past Sunday for her refusal to grant an interview with TIME, despite repeated requests. His posts to X (formerly Twitter) come just two months after TIME ran a cover story on Harris, even without the opportunity to interview her directly.

Benioff pointed out that both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, before withdrawing from the race, had agreed to extensive interviews with TIME, emphasizing the contrast in their willingness to engage compared to Harris.

Benioff, who has supported both Democrats and Republicans in the past, questioned why Harris has chosen to avoid TIME. In his posts, he highlighted TIME's commitment to transparency, noting that the interviews with Trump and Biden were published in full for public viewing. He didn’t mince words, asking: “Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?” He also tagged the posts with hashtags like #TrustMatters and #TransparencyMatters, underscoring his frustration.

In a follow-up post, Benioff shared a link to a recent TIME article titled, “What Kind of President Would Kamala Harris Be?” He pointed out a significant excerpt: "Harris declined repeated requests for an interview for this story. In contrast, Trump talked about his policy vision with a TIME reporter for 90 minutes across two interviews. Biden spoke to TIME at similar length before dropping out of the race."

Benioff’s criticism caught the attention of notable figures, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a Trump supporter, who echoed Benioff’s sentiment. Ackman called Harris’s refusal to be interviewed unprecedented, remarking, “That alone should tell you what you need to know about her.”

However, not everyone agreed with Benioff’s stance. Democratic commentator Bakari Sellers came to Harris’s defense, noting that she has participated in numerous public interviews, including with 60 Minutes, Univision, and CNN. Sellers took issue with Benioff’s claim that Harris wasn’t engaging with the public, calling that assertion “trash,” and emphasizing that Harris has been actively involved in other forums.

Written by Arthur Higgens - October 14, 2024