Vance Supports Trump: "Harris Is Like a Chameleon... Intellectually Valid"

U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate and Senator J.D. Vance, who was previously embroiled in controversy over his so-called 'childless cat lady' remarks, has now come out in defense of his running mate, former President Donald Trump's racist comments.

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According to U.S. CNN and other media outlets, Senator Vance on the 31st of last month (local time) rebutted former President Trump's racist remarks at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) debate, where Trump said about Vice President Kamala Harris, "She suddenly became Black," and "I don't know if she's Indian or Black," focusing on her identity issues. Vance argued that Trump was "fundamentally pointing out Harris's chameleon-like nature."

Senator Vance stated, "What Trump meant is that this person (Harris) changes her identity as easily as changing clothes," and added, "It is entirely reasonable to point that out." He further claimed, "She is silent on all issues," and said, "She is fake. A fraud. Our entire campaign will have a very enjoyable time pointing this out."

Earlier, former President Trump claimed at the NABJ debate that Vice President Harris "has always been 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." However, Harris, born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, graduated from Howard University, a prestigious historically Black college in Washington D.C., and has expressed her Black and South Asian identities even before entering politics. This led to criticism labeling Trump's remarks as "fake claims" and "blatantly racist disparagement."

Immediately after the remarks were made public, even within the Republican Party, there were numerous calls to "focus on Harris's policies," "this is not a wise statement," and "racist remarks should be avoided." Amid this, Senator Vance, Trump's running mate, defended the remarks on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, "Trump showed courage in answering tough questions at the NABJ conference, but Harris cowardly continues to avoid all investigations and hostile media."

However, at the same debate where the controversy arose, former President Trump downplayed Senator Vance's influence by saying in response to a question about Vance's suitability for office, "The vice president actually has no impact on the election." Trump said, "I have respected him," but added, "(The election) is about voting for the president. You are voting for me."

These remarks drew attention as they were confirmed amid the spread of Senator Vance's controversial remarks, including disparaging Vice President Harris as a 'childless cat lady' and calling childless people 'sociopaths.' Although Vance later attempted to clarify and persuade in media interviews, criticism that his remarks were sexist and offensive has not subsided.

Major foreign media reported that as Senator Vance's controversial remarks were confirmed, even within the Republican Party, doubts about his candidacy suitability are emerging. The New York Times (NYT) reported that while former President Trump is trying to distance himself from the far-right policy-centered 'Project 2025' announced by the Heritage Foundation, the prominent relationship between Senator Vance and the foundation's chairman complicates Trump's efforts.

Meanwhile, Vice President Harris dismissed former President Trump's attacks on her racial identity at a Black female student club event as "the same old show," calling it "division and rudeness." She emphasized, "Americans deserve better," and said, "A leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when faced with facts, a leader who knows that our differences do not divide us." Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator from Arizona and a leading Democratic vice presidential candidate, disparaged Trump's remarks as "the desperate and frightened words of an old man who got his butt kicked by a skilled prosecutor last week."

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