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During a speech in front of approximately 1,000 people, Trump said, “She (Harris) was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage.I didn’t know she was Black, until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black,” which elicited some disapproval from the audience.
“So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black? But you know what, I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn, and she went – she became a Black person,” he continued.
Harris, who has identified as both Black and South Asian American, is the first Black and Asian American US vice president.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Trump’s remarks, saying, “What he just said is repulsive. It’s insulting.”
Since starting her campaign, Harris has encountered repeated sexist and racist attacks online. Despite this, she continues to identify as both Black and South Asian American. Trump’s comments have also fueled further misinformation spread by far-right and conservative accounts on social media, questioning Harris’ racial identity.
The panel interview had a tense beginning when ABC News reporter Rachel Scott asked Trump why Black voters should support him despite his controversial history with racially charged comments. Trump reacted strongly to the question, calling it “horrible,” “hostile,” and a “disgrace,” while also labeling ABC as a “fake” network.
“I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” Trump asserted.
Trump’s appearance at the convention, his first-ever at the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual event in Chicago, faced backlash from some members. This prompted a co-chair of the convention to resign in protest.
Despite this friction, Trump has made some progress with Black men, particularly after President Joe Biden, his former Democratic opponent, struggled to mobilize Black voters, who have traditionally been a loyal Democratic voting bloc. In 2020, Biden secured 92% of Black voters compared to Trump’s 8%, according to Pew Research.
The race for the presidency is anticipated to be tight, with key battleground states playing a decisive role. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, Trump leads Harris by a narrow margin of 43%-42%, within the poll’s margin of error. This survey is among several recent polls indicating that Harris has closed the gap that Trump had widened in the final weeks of Biden’s campaign.
