California congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter is facing mounting criticism after a recently surfaced video showed her threatening to walk out of an interview with a CBS journalist. The exchange, which took place weeks ago, has since gone viral and reignited debate over Porter’s communication style and temperament during her campaign for governor.

The interview was part of CBS News California Investigates, where correspondent Julie Watts questioned each candidate about redistricting and Proposition 50. Proposition 50 is a Democratic-led effort to reshape congressional districts to gain more House seats, a move seen as a response to Republican redistricting strategies in Texas.

During the interview, Watts asked Porter a key political question: what she would say to the 40 percent of California voters who supported former President Donald Trump. The question aimed to understand how Porter would appeal to conservatives in a general election where bipartisan support is often crucial.

Porter, however, appeared frustrated by the question. Laughing, she responded, “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” She went on to say that she believes she would attract all non-Trump votes in a general election and that she has previously earned Republican support in her congressional races.

Watts pressed further, noting that Porter had just implied she didn’t need Trump voters at all. This follow-up seemed to irritate the congresswoman, who raised her hands and accused the journalist of being “unnecessarily argumentative.” Porter then expressed frustration with what she described as excessive follow-ups to each question.

“I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it,” Porter said. “I won’t do an interview with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.” She added that she had never before been forced to end an interview, suggesting this was an unusual experience for her.

The tense exchange was only a few minutes of a 30-minute discussion, but clips of it quickly spread across social media. Julie Watts later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that just three minutes of the full segment had gone viral, encouraging viewers to watch the entire interview for full context.

The video triggered strong reactions online. Some viewers found Porter’s demeanor defensive and dismissive, while others defended her right to push back against what they saw as overly repetitive questioning. The debate soon expanded beyond the interview itself, touching on broader questions about media conduct and political accountability.

Several high-profile figures chimed in. Journalist Megyn Kelly called the interview “the most entertaining, unifying thing since Tiger King.” Republican communicator Matt Whitlock mocked Porter’s frustration, while venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya commented on her demeanor by saying, “Katie Porter would like to run the fifth largest economy in the world.”

Republican Congressman Ken Calvert of California used the moment to criticize Porter more broadly, arguing it reflected a Democratic tendency to dismiss opposing viewpoints. He linked the exchange to the ongoing debate around Proposition 50, framing it as an example of what he called “radical California Democrat politicians” trying to silence dissent.

Democratic strategist Marisol Samayoa, who previously worked for Senator Adam Schiff’s campaign, also weighed in, calling Porter’s response a “case study on what not to do in a press interview.” Meanwhile, journalist Mehdi Hasan said the clip underscored a larger issue, arguing that politicians have grown too accustomed to expecting “pleasant, positive conversations” instead of challenging interviews.

The backlash comes at a pivotal moment for Porter’s gubernatorial campaign. She has built a national reputation for her sharp questioning during congressional hearings and her advocacy for consumer rights, but moments like this may test how voters perceive her temperament and leadership style. With recent support from EMILY’s List, Porter is positioning herself as a leading Democratic contender—but her handling of public scrutiny could play a major role in shaping her path forward.