Donald Trump falsely suggested that Kamala Harris misled voters about her ethnicity in an interview Wednesday before the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Chicago.
The former Republican president said that Mr.me Harris, the first black and Asian American woman to serve as vice president, has only touted her Indian heritage in the past.
“I didn’t know she was black until a few years ago when she became black and now she wants to be known for being black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or black?” Trump asked at the NABJ annual convention.
Mme Harris has a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both of whom immigrated to the United States. She attended Howard University, one of the nation’s largest historically black colleges, where she also pledged the historically black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. As a U.S. senator, Ms.me Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, supporting her colleagues’ legislation to strengthen voting rights and reform the police.
Donald Trump has addressed many criticisms to Mme Harris since she replaced President Joe Biden as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination last week. Throughout his political career, the former president has repeatedly questioned the backgrounds of his racially-diverse opponents.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Trump’s remarks during her briefing with reporters on Wednesday and responded with disbelief, first letting out a “wow.”
Mme Jean-Pierre, who is also black, called the Republican’s comments “disgusting” and said: “It’s insulting and no one has the right to tell someone who they are and how they identify.”
Donald Trump rose to prominence in Republican politics by spreading false theories that President Barack Obama, the country’s first black president, was not born in the United States.
During this year’s Republican primary, he called former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, a “Nimbra.”
Tense atmosphere
The tone rose during Mr. Trump’s appearance Wednesday at the annual gathering of black journalists. The former president argued with interviewer Rachel Scott of ABC News, accusing her of giving him a “very rude introduction.”
M’s first questionme Scott discussed Mr. Trump’s past criticism of black people and black journalists, his attack on black prosecutors who have brought cases against him and the dinner he had at his Florida club with a white supremacist.
The former president continued his attacks on ABC News, which he said should not host the next presidential debate, despite its previous agreement with Joe Biden.
The Republican also reiterated his false claim that illegal immigrants in the country are “taking black jobs.” When Mme Scott pushed him to talk about what constituted a “black job,” and he responded by saying it was “any job,” sparking discontent in the room.
During the same exchange, Donald Trump claimed to be the “best president for black people since Abraham Lincoln,” who abolished slavery, a statement that earned him a mixture of boos and some applause.
Rachel Scott also asked Mr. Trump about his commitment to pardoning those convicted for their role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, and specifically whether he would pardon those who assaulted police officers.
“Oh, absolutely, I would,” the former president replied, before adding that “if they are innocent, I will pardon them.”
The journalist stressed, however, that the people he was referring to had been found guilty and therefore could not be innocent.
“Well, they were convicted by a very, very harsh system,” Mr. Trump retorted.
With Aaron Morrison in New York, Gary Fields in Chicago, and Will Weissert and Farnoush Amiri in Washington for The Associated Press