FACT CHECK: Did Kamala Harris Respond To Interview Question About Cognitive Test With Blank Stare?
A video shared on Instagram claims 2024 Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris responded to an interview question about a cognitive test with a blank stare.
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Verdict: False
The claim is false. An article published on CBS News’ website indicates Harris verbally agreed to take a cognitive test and did not merely respond to the question with a blank stare.
Fact Check:
Harris will hold a campaign rally Monday in Philadelphia in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum, according to NBC News Philadelphia. Various guests, including talk show host Oprah Winfrey and pop star Lady Gaga, are expected to appear at the rally, the outlet reported.
The Instagram video, which has received over 3,000 likes as of writing, claims Harris responded to an interview question about a cognitive test with a blank stare.
The video features a clip of a recent interview between Harris and CBS News host Norah O’Donnell. O’Donnell mentions a comment made by 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump in which he referred to Harris as a “very low IQ person” and then suggested Harris take a cognitive test. Harris appears to nod but does not verbally respond to O’Donnell’s comment.
The claim is false. An article published on CBS News’ website indicates Harris did verbally respond to O’Donnell’s comment and said she would agree to take a cognitive test. The Vice President and 2024 Democratic nominee also challenged Trump to take a cognitive test of his own.
“Would you take a cognitive test?,” O’Donnell asks Harris during the same interview, a video included in the article shows.
“Sure,” Harris responds. “I would challenge [Trump] to take the same one,” she adds.
Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to suggest Harris only responded to the question with a blank stare. In fact, the opposite is true. On Oct. 31, PolitiFact debunked the claim, referencing the same CBS News article.
In addition, Harris does not appear to have referenced the claim on her 2024 campaign website or her verified social media accounts. O’Donnell also does not appear to have publicly commented on the claim. (RELATED: Did Donald Trump Call For Liz Cheney To Be Executed?)
Check Your Fact has contacted a Harris campaign spokesperson for comment.
