Former President Donald Trump has reignited a racial controversy after suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris has embraced her Black identity for political reasons. During an event with Black journalists in Chicago, Trump claimed that Harris, who is the first Black woman and first Asian American to hold this position, recently highlighted her Indian heritage but now wishes to be known as Black.
Harris, who is seen as a probable Democratic presidential candidate, called Trump’s comments divisive. “I didn’t know she was Black until a few years ago when she suddenly became Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or Black?” Trump said during the panel at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention.
Trump added that he only knows Harris indirectly and has always perceived her as someone of Indian heritage. “I respect both, but apparently, she doesn’t respect it because she has always been Indian and then suddenly made a turn and became a Black person,” Trump stated. “I think someone should take a closer look at that.”
Trump also accused panel moderator Rachel Scott from ABC News of being “rude” and posing unacceptable questions. Scott reminded Trump of his previous attacks on Black prosecutors and journalists, asking why Black voters should trust him.
This interview occurred less than three weeks before the Democratic National Convention, where the party is expected to nominate Harris and her running mate. Trump’s performance was seen as an opportunity for him to reach out to Black voters, but the intense exchanges during the panel may ultimately harm his prospects in the upcoming elections.
Kamala Harris, 59, has long embraced her dual identity as both Black and South Asian. She is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both of whom are immigrants. Reports indicate that she grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Berkeley, California, as her mother wished for her daughters to be recognized as Black women. Harris also attended Howard University, a historically Black institution in Washington, D.C.
In her response to Trump’s remarks during a meeting in Houston, Harris stated, “Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists. And it was the same old show: division and disrespect. The American people deserve better.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also responded to Trump, calling his comments “disgusting” and “hurtful.” “No one has the right to tell anyone who they are,” she stated, adding that Harris deserves respect as the Vice President of the United States.
Trump’s comments reflect previous attacks on Black political opponents, and research indicates that such claims and conspiracy theories can have dangerous consequences. Winning over Black voters is crucial for both candidates, and minor shifts in the electorate can significantly impact key states in the upcoming election.