Kamala Harris faces criticism for CNN social distancing

Kamala Harris is slammed for extreme and ‘unnecessary’ social distancing ‘theater’ during CNN interview

  • Vice President Kamala Harris and CNN host Dana Bash appeared to be seated well over six feet apart during the interview on Sunday
  • Viewers were quick to point out the large distance between the two, saying on social media that it was ‘unnecessary’ and ‘all theater’ 
  • Harris has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since January but Bash’s circumstances were not immediately clear 
  • The CDC updated its guidance last month to say fully vaccinated people could now gather indoors with others who have been fully vaccinated 
  • Fully vaccinated people can also gather inside with unvaccinated people from another household if that person, or people they live with, isn’t at increased risk

Vice President Kamala Harris has faced criticism for what people have called extreme social distancing during a sit-down CNN interview. 

Harris and host Dana Bash appeared to be seated well over six feet apart during the interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.  

Viewers were quick to point out the large distance between the two, saying on social media that it was ‘unnecessary’ and ‘all theater’.

The CDC updated its guidance last month to say fully vaccinated people could gather indoors without wearing a mask or remaining six feet apart with others who have been fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated people can also gather inside with unvaccinated people from another household without masks or social distancing if that person, or people they live with, does not have an increase risk of severe illness from COVID-19. 

Harris has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since January but Bash’s circumstances were not immediately clear. 

Vice President Kamala Harris and CNN host Dana Bash appeared to be seated well over six feet apart during the interview on Sunday

‘They’re freaking vaccinated,’ one person claimed on Twitter.  

‘Grab some popcorn it’s all theatre,’ one said.  

‘They’re further apart than two kids dancing at a church social,’ another said.  

Another claimed the distance was down to the Democratic brand and was ‘unnecessary’. 

‘Given how unnecessary this is, we can only assume that the Democrats have something to gain by keeping people unreasonably anxious and afraid of Covid,’ they wrote. 

‘Why else would they insist on adopting this kind of theater and making it part of the Democratic brand?’ 

Another joked about the distance, saying: ‘Can you scooch back just a little? Thanks! Little more though? Now just scooch a bit more. Juuust a bit more. Scooch a touch more? Thanks, a little more. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I SAID A BIT MORE! Can she me waving my hand? Call her cell. Kamala? It’s Dana, can you scooch a bit more?’ 

The interview between Harris and Bash was wide-ranging, with the VP saying she hasn’t visited Central America in her capacity as border ‘czar’ yet because of coronavirus complications. 

‘Yes, we’re working on a plan to get there, we’re working through COVID issues,’ Harris said as she pushed her position on addressing ‘root causes’ in Northern Triangle countries that cause citizens to flee to the US. 

‘I can’t get there soon enough. That is a big part of what is going on.’

Earlier this month, Harris said she was planning a visit ‘soon’ to Guatemala with a stop in Mexico. 

The administration later said the trip is being planned for June.

Harris said, however, that she will not be visiting the border during that trip because Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is in charge of addressing the crisis there. 

Harris has received a slew of criticism for refusing to visit the border despite the White House putting her in charge of one of the administration’s biggest hurdles.

The interview between Harris and Bash was wide-ranging, with the VP saying she hasn’t visited Central America in her capacity as border ‘czar’ yet because of coronavirus complications

In the 32 days since being given her new role, Harris has not visited the southern border or held any press conferences related to the crisis.

She reiterated in her interview Sunday morning that she believes Central American migrants don’t want to leave their home country, but are forced out through disaster or circumstance.

‘Most people don’t want to leave home, They don’t want to leave their grandparents. They don’t want to leave the place where they grew up,’ Harris told CNN’s Dana Bash in the pre-recorded interview.

‘We have to give people some sense of hope that if they stay, that help is on the way,’ she said, claiming she is working with several Cabinet officials on diplomatic relationships with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. 

Harris will hold a virtual meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on May 7 to discuss migration amid an increase in underage migrants at the US southern border.

Mexico’s top diplomat revealed the news and said the video meeting will focus on Mexico’s questioned tree-planting program.

López Obrador is trying to get the United States to help fund a massive expansion of the program into Central America as a way to stem migration.  

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