'Train-wreck': Candidate for Dem governor clashes with journalist over Trump question

Reactions mounted Wednesday after California governor candidate and former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) clashed with a journalist during a sit-down interview after she was asked a question about President Donald Trump in what people are calling a "train-wreck."

“What do you say to the 40% of California voters, who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?” Julie Watts, CBS News correspondent, asked Porter during the interview that aired Tuesday night.

“How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded.

Watts asked if Porter thinks she could win the other 60% of voters, and looking visibly irritated, Porter reacted saying "in a general election? Yes. If it is me versus a Republican, I think I will win the people who did not vote for Trump.”

And when Watts asked what she would expect if it's Porter vs. another Democrat — that's when things went south — and Porter attempted to leave the conversation.

“I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m gonna call it. Thank you,” Porter said.

“I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you,” Porter said.

“I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, either,” the reporter responded.

People reacted on social media to the contentious interaction, criticizing Porter's reaction.

"Someone who used to work with Katie Porter sent me this clip from a train-wreck interview with her and said, 'Now imagine what she’s like when there aren’t cameras around,'" journalist Yashar Ali wrote on X.

"I'm surprised Katie Porter didn't ask to speak to the manager," electrical engineer Chris Smolinski wrote on X.

"'I want to have a pleasant positive conversation' A car crash interview for Katie Porter. But also a reminder of why our media is broken. Politicians got use to the idea that interviews should be 'pleasant positive conversations'. NO! They should be challenging & discomforting," journalist Mehdi Hasan wrote on X.

"After watching the interview, it’s clear---Katie Porter doesn’t have the temperament to be Governor. As a candidate, I welcome the hard questions---the next governor must be accessible and transparent. No place for temper tantrums. No place for dodging the public’s right to know," former California State Controller and current governor candidate Betty T. Yee wrote on X.

"A cautionary tale for members of congress: porter was known to avoid hallway interviews w/ congressional reporters. Talk to us! it’s good practice for when you run for governor!!" Axios reporter Andrew Solender wrote on X.