Trump Sparks Racism Controversy Saying "Harris Suddenly Became Black"

"I don't know if she is Indian or Black." Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, once again raised the issue of racial identity, claiming that his 'competitor,' Vice President Kamala Harris, 'suddenly' became Black in front of a Black audience.

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

On the 31st of last month (local time), at a debate hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), former President Trump said about Vice President Harris, "She was always Indian and only promoted her Indian heritage. I didn't know she was Black until a few years ago when she suddenly transformed into a Black person." He also stated, "I respect both sides, but she clearly is not. She was always Indian and suddenly turned Black. Someone needs to look into this issue."

As is well known, Vice President Harris's father is from Jamaica, and her mother is from India. Born in California, she graduated from Howard University, a prestigious historically Black university in Washington, DC, and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a Black women's community. According to her 2019 memoir, she was elected president of the Black Law Students Association while attending the University of California Hastings College of the Law. CNN stated, "Trump's claim is false," pointing out that "Harris did not 'suddenly' start identifying as Black. She embraced her Black identity long before entering politics and also respected her South Asian heritage."

The NABJ event was seen as an opportunity for former President Trump to win over Black voters, but with his racist remarks taking center stage, evaluations followed that it was unclear what achievements, if any, were made. Earlier, when polls showed that Black and Latino voters, considered the Democratic Party's core supporters, were drifting away before President Joe Biden announced his re-election bid, Trump appeared to make efforts to win their votes. On this day as well, Trump praised himself as "the best president for Black people since Abraham Lincoln," claiming, "I love the Black people of this country. I have done a lot for them."

At the scene, there were overt jeers and sighs in response to Trump's racist remarks. Additionally, when ABC News reporter Rachel Scott pressed him with tough questions early in the event, Trump said, "I've never been questioned in such a terrible way," and lashed out, "Are you with ABC? Fake news, terrible fake news broadcasting."

Furthermore, in the NABJ debate, when asked if he would step down if his health deteriorated, Trump answered, "Of course." He said, "Moreover, I think anyone running for president should take a cognitive test. I have already taken it twice and passed with flying colors, but I will take it again and suggest Harris take a cognitive test as well." He then disparaged Vice President Harris by mentioning that she failed the bar exam, saying, "She might not even pass the cognitive test."

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

After the event, former President Trump repeated his claims on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, "Kamala Harris says she is Indian, not Black. Completely fake," and "She is using everyone, including her racial identity." The post was accompanied by a 2019 video of Vice President Harris making masala dosa, a South Indian dish, with Indian American actress Mindy Kaling.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the first Black female White House press secretary in U.S. history, criticized, "What he just said is hateful and offensive," adding, "No one has the right to tell someone who they are or how they identify." Michael Tyler, communications director for the Harris campaign, also remarked, "Trump showed exactly who he is," calling it "just a taste of confusion and division."

Local media compared this controversy to Trump's past promotion of the 'Birtherism' conspiracy, which questioned whether former President Obama was born in the U.S., fostering prejudice, and flooded reports labeling it a "false claim."

Politico assessed, "Trump challenged Harris but it did not go well," noting, "It revealed how difficult it is to confront a woman of color competitor without resorting to misogynistic and racist remarks." The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, "Trump, who called for national unity at the Republican National Convention, signals that he will continue personal attacks on rivals and hostility toward journalists." The New York Times (NYT) described it as "an obvious racist disparagement," but also reported, "After the event, Trump seemed to confirm the political value of the controversy he created. Attacks on racial identity are spreading among far-right groups and Trump supporters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.