Donald Trump is facing new criticism after questioning Kamala Harris’s racial identity. In an interview that some have described as a disaster for the former President, Trump declared that Harris referred to herself as Indian for years but later “made a turn” and “became a black person.” Trump made the remarks during a sit-down discussion with representatives of the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.
The interview started with a question from ABC reporter Rachel Scott, who asked Trump why black voters should trust him given his previous remarks, which many people have found racially offensive. The former President set the tone of a tense discussion by insisting Scott was treating him disrespectfully. He complained that he had had to wait 35 minutes for the interview to start and told Scott she worked for “fake news.” The response elicited loud boos from the audience, which only grew louder as the event continued.
Scott later asked the Republican candidate if he felt Kamala Harris was a “DEI hire,” as some GOP colleagues claimed. Trump did not directly answer the question but asked of Harris, “Is she Indian, or is she black?”
Harris supporters have subsequently highlighted her background, saying she attended Howard University, which is historically black, and belonged to the black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. Additionally, the Vice President has led the Black Law Students Association and was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus as a Senator.
Vice President Harris later acknowledged Trump’s remarks but did not respond directly or seek to clarify her racial identity. Instead, she accused Trump of performing the “same old show” and providing “yet another reminder” about what a second Trump Presidency would look like. “The American people deserve better,” she said.
Some Republicans have expressed their concerns about the interview’s impact on Trump’s electoral chances. Republican strategist Whit Ayres, for instance, said questioning Harris’s race was “not a wise move” and repeated points made to GOP lawmakers in a recent closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill – namely that Republicans should avoid mentioning the Vice President’s race or gender and focus on her record and policies.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed Trump’s comments at a press conference and took the opportunity to describe the former President as “repulsive.” Harris for President spokesperson Michael Tyler said Mr. Trump’s “tirade” was “a taste of the chaos and division that has been a hallmark of Trump’s MAGA rallies.”
News that Trump was to appear at a National Association of Black Journalists event was met with backlash from its members, some of whom boycotted the interview. Eventually, however, the organization decided it would not break with tradition and would, therefore, speak to every Presidential candidate. Spokesperson Ken Lemon said that while concerns were acknowledged, it was important for members to have the opportunity to question Mr. Trump and “hold him accountable.”
The Vice President has also been invited to talk to the group and will reportedly do so later in the year.
