'Is she Indian or Black?' Trump questions Harris' identity at Black journalists' convention

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses former U.S. President Donald Trump's comments at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention, where he falsely suggested that his Democratic rival Kamala Harris had previously downplayed her Black heritage. The article also covers Trump's other controversial statements during the interview, as well as the reactions from Harris and other political figures.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Trump's Comments on Kamala Harris' Racial Identity

1. What did Trump say about Kamala Harris' racial identity?

• Trump falsely suggested that Harris had previously downplayed her Black heritage, saying "She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn't know she was Black, until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black."
• Trump questioned whether Harris is "Indian or is she Black," saying "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."

2. How did Harris respond to Trump's comments?

• Hours after Trump's comments, Harris told members of the historically Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho that his remarks were "yet another reminder" of what the four years under the former president looked like, calling it "the same old show of divisiveness and disrespect."

3. How did other political figures react to Trump's comments?

• Republican strategist Whit Ayres said Trump's questioning of Harris' racial background was "not a wise move" and that "there are plenty of policy issues he can go after her on without going after her identity."
• The invitation to Trump to attend the NABJ event triggered a backlash among some members of the organization, and prompted a co-chair of the convention to step down in protest.

[02] Trump's Interview at the NABJ Convention

1. What were some of the other controversial statements Trump made during the interview?

• Trump claimed he has been the "best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln," which drew groans from the audience.
• When asked about his position on granting police officers immunity following the death of a Black woman, Trump acknowledged he didn't know much about the case, drawing gasps from the crowd.
• Trump repeated a line from a previous debate, claiming that migrants crossing the U.S. southern border would take away "Black jobs," a term that drew criticism from some Black leaders.

2. How did the interview go overall?

• The interview started on a tense note, with the moderator listing a series of racist comments Trump had made and asking why Black voters should support him.
• The interview was plagued by technical issues, with both Trump and the moderators sometimes unable to hear each other.
• The session, originally scheduled for an hour, ended abruptly after about 35 minutes when the Trump campaign said he was out of time.

3. What was the broader context of Trump's appearance at the NABJ convention?

• Trump's appearance was part of a broader effort to court Black voters, including campaign events in cities with large Black populations.
• The Trump campaign was encouraged by polls showing weakened support among Black men for President Joe Biden, his former opponent.
• However, Biden's decision to step down in favor of Harris has shaken up the race, with public opinion polls showing newfound enthusiasm for her candidacy among voters of color and younger voters.