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In a contentious appearance at a gathering of Black journalists in Chicago, former President Donald Trump made false and inflammatory claims about Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity, suggesting she “happened to turn Black” a few years ago. His comments sparked immediate backlash and highlighted ongoing racial tensions in American politics.
Trump’s comments came in response to a question about whether he agreed with some Republicans who have characterized Harris as a “DEI hire.” He questioned Harris’s heritage, saying, “She 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. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”
He continued, “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. I think somebody should look into that too.”
Vice President Harris responded later that day while speaking in Houston at a Sigma Gamma Rho sorority event, calling Trump’s comments “the same old show, the divisiveness and the disrespect.” She added, “Let me just say, the American people deserve better.”
Trump’s remarks echo his previous attacks on Black political figures, including his promotion of the debunked “birther” conspiracy theory about former President Barack Obama. Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, was born in Oakland, California, and attended Howard University, a historically Black university.
During the Chicago interview, which included journalists from ABC News, Semafor, and Fox News, Trump faced pointed questions about his history of racially charged statements. ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked Trump about his past false claims and derogatory comments about various political figures and journalists of color. Trump responded combatively, criticizing the manner of the question and defending his record with the Black community.
Trump touted his efforts to support the Black population, citing his work on employment, opportunity zones, and funding for historically Black colleges and universities. He dismissed the introductory question as “disgraceful” and maintained his strong support among Black Americans.
In another part of the interview, Scott asked Trump about Republicans labeling Harris a “DEI hire.” Trump’s response was ambiguous, stating, “I really don’t know. Could be. Could be.”
Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as reflective of a “worse version of an already horrible person.” At a campaign fundraiser in Maine, Emhoff emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, calling Trump’s comments a distraction from more important issues.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also weighed in, labeling Trump’s comments “repulsive” and “insulting.” She stated, “As a person of color – as a Black woman, who is in this position that is standing before you at this podium, behind this lectern – what he just said, what you just read out to me, is repulsive. It’s insulting, and, you know, no one has any right to tell someone who they are, how they identify.”
Harris’s campaign did not directly respond to Trump’s comments about her racial identity but reiterated that Trump continues to use divisive tactics. Campaign spokesman Michael Tyler stated, “Donald Trump has already proven he cannot unite America, so he attempts to divide us.”
During the Chicago event, Trump also criticized the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for technical issues that delayed the start of the panel discussion. He called himself “the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” a claim that was met with groans from the audience. When asked if he was better than Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed landmark civil rights legislation, Trump ignored the question.
The interview touched on various contentious issues, including Trump’s willingness to pardon January 6 rioters. When asked by Scott if he would pardon those convicted of attacking police officers at the US Capitol, Trump affirmed, “Absolutely, I would.” He criticized the Capitol police for the shooting of rioter Ashli Babbitt and contrasted the treatment of January 6 rioters with those who participated in Black Lives Matter protests.
Fox News’ Harris Faulkner questioned Trump about his potential running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Trump downplayed the importance of the vice presidential pick, stating that historically, it has had little impact on elections.
As the 2024 election approaches, Trump’s comments and the ensuing reactions underscore the deep divisions and heightened sensitivities surrounding race and identity in American politics. The former president’s controversial statements continue to provoke strong reactions and set the stage for a highly contentious campaign season.
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