“Is she Black or Indian?” During the Black Journalists’ Convention, Trump queries Harris’ identity

During a heated discussion on Wednesday at the nation’s largest annual meeting of Black journalists, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump questioned if Democratic opponent Kamala Harris is “Indian” or “Black”.

“She solely promoted Indian ancestry; she was of Indian descent from the beginning. “She turned Black a few years ago, and now she wants to be known as Black. I didn’t know she was Black,” Trump remarked, earning a few jeers from the about 1,000 people in attendance.

“So, I’m not sure if she’s Black or Indian. Trump went on. “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.”

Harris has always identified as both Black and Asian, despite having Jamaican and Indian ancestry. She is the first Asian American and Black vice president of the United States.

In reaction to Trump’s comments, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated at a briefing, “What he just said is repulsive.” “It’s insulting.”

Harris has been the target of several online sexist and racist remarks since she announced her candidacy for president earlier this month. Some far-right accounts have even questioned Harris’ racial identity. Leaders of the Republican Party have asked lawmakers to avoid making personal jabs at her and instead concentrate on her policy stances.

Trump has insulted Harris personally and declared he would disregard suggestions to soften his language. At a campaign event, he declared to his followers, “I’m not gonna be nice!”

“BLACK JOBS”

One of three Black women moderators, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, opened the contentious conversation at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago by listing a number of racist remarks made by Trump and asking why Black voters should support him.

Trump referred to ABC as a “fake” network and labeled the question “horrible,” “hostile,” and a “disgrace” in his reaction.

He claimed, “I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” to the audience’s disapproval.

Reiterating a statement from the June presidential debate, Trump said that immigrants entering the country illegally will steal “Black jobs,” a claim that some Black leaders found offensive.

“What exactly is a ‘Black job,’ sir?” Scott enquired.

“Anybody with a job is a Black job,” Trump retorted.

In addition, Trump said, “I don’t know,” when asked if Harris was a “DEI hire,” as some Republicans have suggested.

The term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) refers to programs that attempt to overcome long-standing discrimination and injustice by boosting the participation of women and people of color in the workforce. The phrase “DEI hire” implies that a someone was selected based only on their gender or ethnicity, even though they are not qualified.

The Harris team released a statement saying, “Today’s tirade is simply a taste of the chaos and division that has been a hallmark of Trump’s MAGA rallies this entire campaign.”

Amidst gasps from the audience, Trump admitted that he didn’t know much about the case when asked about his thoughts on giving police officers immunity in the wake of Sonya Massey’s death—a Black woman shot and killed in her own home by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy. But, he continued, “it didn’t look good to me.”

The Trump team claimed that issues with the event’s audio equipment were the reason the interview started more than an hour later than scheduled. Sound issues plagued the event, sometimes making it difficult for Trump and the interviewees to hear one another.

The hour-long discussion ended abruptly after around 35 minutes, according to Scott, when the campaign claimed he ran out of time.

COURTING BLACK VOTERS

Republican strategist Whit Ayres called Trump’s inquiry into Harris’ racial heritage “not a wise move.”

“There are plenty of policy issues he can go after her on without going after her identity,” he stated.

This week, a co-chair of the convention resigned in protest over Trump’s invitation to attend the event, sparking reaction from other NABJ members.

Some of Trump’s incorrect claims throughout the interview elicited laughs and murmurs from the audience. Someone shouted, “Sir, have you no shame?” once, but other people quickly shushed him.

Trump’s visit was a part of a larger campaign trail tour that included rallies on Saturday in Atlanta and other heavily Black towns, all aimed at courting Black voters.

Polls supporting his candidacy revealed a decline in Black men’s support for his former opponent, President Joe Biden. Traditionally, the most devoted Democratic voting group is made up of Black people. Based on Pew Research, Biden defeated Trump 92% to 8% among Black voters in 2020.

However, the contest has been upended by Biden’s decision to withdraw in favor of Harris, as newfound support for her candidacy among younger and voters of color is evident in surveys.

In a nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted on Tuesday, Trump led Harris 43%–42%, with the poll’s margin of error being observed.

Harris, who did not attend the convention, will speak later on Wednesday in Houston to a Black sorority.