Trump says CNN's Dana Bash has 'chance at greatness' with Harris interview

Former President Trump is ramping up pressure on CNN's Dana Bash ahead of a joint interview she is scheduled to conduct Thursday with Vice President Harris and Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate.

"Dana Bash of CNN has a chance at greatness today," Trump wrote on his Truth Social website. "If she gave a fair but tough interview of Comrade Kamala Harris, she will expose her as being totally inept and ill suited for the job of President, much as I exposed Crooked Joe Biden during our now famous Debate. How cool would that be for Dana and CNN???"

CNN announced this week Bash had landed the first interview with Harris since the vice president rose to the top of the Democratic ticket. A source familiar with the network's plans told The Hill this week the conversation would be recorded during the day Thursday, as Harris takes part in a bus tour through Georgia.

Trump and other Republicans have for weeks been needling Harris over a lack of media interviews and other live, unscripted events on the campaign trail since she took on the Democratic mantle following President Biden exiting the White House race last month.

Bash was one of two CNN anchors who moderated the first presidential debate in June between Trump and Biden. The incumbent president's performance at that debate sparked broad questions about his mental acuity and stoked rapid calls from fellow Democrats for him to step aside.

Bash and fellow moderator Jake Tapper caught flak at the time of the first debate for what many observers complained was a lack of real-time fact-checking, particularly of Trump's false or misleading claims.

"Dana and Jake were fair, but firm, in my CNN Debate with Crooked Joe," Trump wrote Thursday. "This is a chance for Dana Bash to reach REAL stardom, while at the same time doing a great service to our now failing Country. Good luck, Dana, do the right thing!!!"

Bash's interview of Harris and Walz is set to air on the network in prime time on Thursday, during the 9 p.m. EDT hour.