California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter stormed out of a CBS News interview after growing frustrated with a reporter’s questions about winning over supporters of President Donald Trump.
Newly released footage from the interview with CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts went viral Tuesday, showing the former Democratic congresswoman screaming about what she called “unnecessarily argumentative” questioning.
“What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?” Watts asked Porter during the sit-down interview.
“How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded.
When Watts pointed out that Porter would need those voters unless she expected to win 60 percent of the vote, Porter grew visibly mad. The exchange escalated as Watts pressed the issue.
“I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative,” Porter said, putting her hands in the interviewer’s face. “What is your question?”
“Every other candidate has answered this question. This is not argumentative,” Watts replied.
After the reporter repeated the question, Porter tried to remove her microphone.
“I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m gonna call it. Thank you,” Porter said.
“You’re not gonna do the interview with us?” Watts asked.
“Nope. Not like this I’m not. Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask,” Porter responded.
As Watts tried to point out that every other candidate had answered the same question, Porter interrupted.
“I don’t care… I have never had to do this before. Ever,” Porter said.
“You’ve never had to have a conversation with a reporter?” Watts questioned.
“To end an interview. To end an interview,” Porter clarified.
“I wanna have a pleasant, positive conversation in which you asked me about every issue on this list. And if every question, you’re gonna make up a follow-up question, then we’re never gonna get there,” Porter said.
“I am an investigative reporter,” Watts responded.
“I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera,” Porter said, and began to storm out.
Porter ultimately backed down and continued answering questions for the 30-minute segment about California’s controversial redistricting plan and other issues facing the state.
Critics blasted the clip. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a rival in the governor’s race, said “we need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions” in a post highlighting Porter’s behavior.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly called the interview “the most entertaining, unifying thing since Tiger King.”
“What a mean, spoiled brat Katie Porter is to a journalist asking a very normal/straight forward question,” Meghan McCain posted on X. “The rumors in DC were always she’s an absolute nightmare – and as usual, people always reveal themselves.”
Prominent Democratic strategist Lis Smith criticized Porter’s mishandling of the interview.
“This is simply not how to run for office or how to deal with the media. And if this [is] how someone acts on camera, imagine how they act off camera,” Smith said.
Democrats are so used to media being their propagandists that they totally lose it when asked basic questions. Here’s California’s Katie Porter losing it during an interview. pic.twitter.com/relSS2Ajpa
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 8, 2025
Porter, who lost her bid for the Senate to Adam Schiff last year, is now running to become California’s governor. She currently holds a slight lead in the polls ahead of next June’s primary.
Porter has repeatedly been accused of bullying by former colleagues and staffers during her time in Congress.
“She has made multiple staffers cry and people are generally so anxious to even staff her because if ANYTHING goes wrong she flips out on whatever staffer is present,” one former staffer claimed in 2024.
Other allegations include Porter using racist language and her staff having some of the highest turnover rates in Congress.
During divorce proceedings, it was revealed Porter allegedly poured scalding food on her ex-husband’s head.