Katie Porter
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Katie Porter Melts Down Over Trump Question, Tries to Exit CBS Interview

RNN Staff

California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter found herself at the center of controversy this week after a tense exchange with a CBS News reporter led to an attempted walkout and widespread backlash.

During a taped interview with CBS California’s Julie Watts, Porter — a Democrat and former congresswoman — visibly bristled when asked how she planned to appeal to California voters who supported President Donald Trump.

“What do you say to the 40% of California voters, who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?” Watts asked.

Porter initially insisted she could “build support” and would seek “every vote possible,” but quickly lost her composure when Watts pressed her for a clearer answer. “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?” Porter snapped.

When Watts reiterated that every other candidate had answered the same question, Porter abruptly began removing her microphone. “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it,” she said. “I don’t want this all on camera.”

The moment, which was recorded last month but aired Monday, quickly went viral after Watts posted a clip of the three-minute exchange on X. Porter’s team later said the interview continued for another 20 minutes, but critics say the damage was already done.

The episode adds to Porter’s growing reputation for volatility. In recent years, she’s faced a string of controversies, including allegations of verbal abuse, mistreatment of staff, and personal drama — including a claim that she once dumped scalding-hot mashed potatoes on her then-husband’s head during a domestic dispute.

This latest outburst drew swift condemnation from her political rivals.

“This is a pattern for Katie Porter,” said State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. “No candidate for Governor should hide from the press or mistreat them. If she can’t answer basic questions from a reporter, how can Californians expect her to stand up to President Trump?”

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa chimed in: “We need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions.”

Even former Biden HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, now a fellow candidate, issued a subtle rebuke: “I’m not interested in excluding any vote. Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.”

Porter had been considered the frontrunner heading into the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, with a RealClearPolitics poll showing her leading by 7 points. But the interview fiasco may shake up that dynamic, especially among swing voters and independents.

For now, the spotlight is on how Porter — who built her brand as a “progressive fighter” — handles basic scrutiny under pressure. And for a candidate trying to lead the largest state in the nation, many are asking: if this is how she reacts to a simple Trump question, what happens when the real challenges begin?

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