Declaring that “all of a sudden, she made a turn” in her identity, former President Donald Trump made up a story that Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent in 2024, “happened to turn Black” a few years ago.
Responding to an interviewer who questioned if Trump agreed with Republicans on Capitol Hill who have labeled Harris as a “DEI hire,” Trump made some remarks during a conference of Black journalists in Chicago.
Harris’ ancestry was questioned by Trump in response. “She was of Indian descent from the beginning, and her only advocacy was of Indian descent,” he said. “She turned Black a few years ago, and now that she wants to be known as Black, I didn’t know that. Therefore, how can I tell if she’s Black or Indian?”
Trump’s Comment About Kamala Harris’s Race
Trump stated that he was unaware of Harris’ race until a few years ago, even though the new Democratic presidential candidate is both Black and Indian American. Next, he blatantly implied that she had only lately chosen to “turn Black” to further her political career.
Trump remarked, “Indirectly, I’ve known her for a long time. She solely promoted Indian ancestry, and she was of Indian descent from the beginning.”
“I respect both of them, but it’s clear that she doesn’t because she was Indian the entire time before suddenly changing to be Black,” he added. “That also has to be investigated by someone. Is she Indian, or is she Black?” he asked.
Kamala Harris’ Response to Trump
Kamala Harris said the former president’s remarks were “the same old show, the divisiveness, and the disrespect” in Houston at a gathering of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.
She stated, “Let me just say, the people of America deserve better.” Trump’s remarks bring to mind his earlier attacks on Black political opponents. Particularly the years he devoted to spreading the racist and bogus “birther” conspiracy theory, which claimed former President Barack Obama was not a native of the United States.
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Notably, Harris’ parents moved to the US. Her father is Jamaican, and her mother is Indian. Harris attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., a historically Black university. Harris was born in Oakland, California. She is the nation’s first Asian American, Black, and female vice president.
Trump’s Interview With Rachel Scott
Trump was interviewed by a panel consisting of Rachel Scott of ABC News and Kadia Goba of Semafor. “You have pushed false claims about some of your rivals, from Nikki Haley to former President Barack Obama,” Scott asked Trump.
“Saying that they were not born in the United States, which is not true. You have told four congresswomen of color, who were American citizens, to go back to where they came from.”
She added, “You have used words like ‘animal’ and ‘rabid’ to describe Black district attorneys. Also, you have attacked Black journalists, calling them a ‘loser,’ saying the questions they ask are, quote, ‘stupid’ and ‘racist.’”
“You’ve had dinner with a White supremacist at your Mar-a-Lago resort. So my question, sir, is now that you are asking Black supporters to vote for you. Why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?” Rachel Scott asked.
In response, the Republican presidential candidate slammed Scott for her “disgraceful” questioning. ” I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump said, noting that she didn’t even say “hello.”
Jean-Pierre’s Response to Trump
Following Trump’s comments at the convention, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre unleashed a scathing rebuttal, labeling them as “repulsive” and “insulting.”
“I find what he just said and what you just read out to me disgusting as a person of color,” she said. “Also, as a Black woman who is in this position, who is standing before you on this platform, behind this lectern.”
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During a press meeting, Jean-Pierre said to reporters, “It’s offensive, and you know, nobody has the right to tell someone who they are or how they identify. No one has the right to that. It is an individual’s choice.”
Trump’s remark on Harris’ race was not directly addressed by her campaign. But it was stated that the former president “lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency.”
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