During an interaction with African American journalists in Chicago on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris had “turned Black” for political gain, escalating his attacks on his Democratic rival.
Trump, known for his inflammatory rhetoric, falsely accused Harris of previously identifying as Indian and then, “all of a sudden, she made a turn, and she became a Black person.” Harris, who is 59, has consistently identified as Black and graduated from a historically Black university.
“So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump questioned during the interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference. Harris responded by denouncing Trump’s remarks as “the same old show” of “divisiveness and disrespect.”
Trump’s comments are likely to impact the 2024 presidential race significantly, especially as he attempts to gain support among Black voters. This controversy comes amid Trump’s ongoing struggles with formulating a new campaign strategy, less than 100 days before the election, following his conviction for felony fraud related to hush money payments.
Later that day, Trump continued his verbal attacks on Harris during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. He accused Harris of being insincere, claiming she adopted a Southern accent at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia. “Everything about Kamala Harris’s rollout, it’s phoney,” Trump told the crowd.
Harris, addressing a sorority gathering in Houston, Texas, countered Trump’s attacks by calling for unity. “The American people deserve better,” she said. “We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us; they are an essential source of our strength.”
Trump’s campaign faced a significant upheaval when President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy on July 21, endorsing Harris as the Democratic nominee. This development has boosted Harris’s favorability ratings and campaign donations, forcing Trump to recalibrate his strategy against a younger, trailblazing opponent.
Trump’s recent attacks on Harris have included false accusations of anti-Semitism, despite her marriage to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, and outrageous claims that she supports the murder of newborn babies.
In addition to these incendiary remarks, Trump and Republicans have also criticized Harris for changing her stance on several issues, such as private health insurance, gun control, fracking, and the expansion of the Supreme Court. Trump suggested in a Fox News interview that world leaders would consider Harris weak, describing her as “like a play toy.”
Despite these attacks, Harris has made significant gains in key battleground states, erasing Trump’s lead, according to a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll. Harris also secured endorsements from over 100 venture capital investors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and billionaire Mark Cuban, who described themselves as “pro-business” and “pro-American dream.”
These developments underscore the intensifying battle for the White House as Trump and Harris continue to vie for voters’ support in the lead-up to the 2024 election.