Donald Trump questions KamDonald Trump questions Kamala Harris’s racial identity, asking if she is Indian or black | US Newsala Harris’s racial identity: Is she Indian or black? | US News
Donald Trump has raised doubts about the racial background of vice president Kamala Harris, questioning whether she is Indian or black, during an interview with a black journalist.
His comments at a convention hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago received shocked responses from the audience.
Trump stated: “I’ve known her indirectly for a long time… and she always identified with her Indian heritage, only promoting it.
“I was unaware that she was black until a few years ago when she started identifying as black, so now she wants to be known as black, I’m confused, is she Indian or black?” he wondered.
Ms Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the likely Democratic nominee for the November 5th US presidential election.
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An aide for Ms Harris described the appearance as an “absolute disaster” for Mr Trump.
Another source close to her election campaign called the comments “completely unhinged”, “insulting and repulsive.”
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre immediately condemned the remarks as “impulsive and insulting”.
Harris is likely to be the Democratic nominee in the upcoming election. Pic: AP
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a former leader, a former president, it is insulting and we have to put that she is the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris.
“We have to put some respect on her name,” she added.
Ms Harris, who describes herself as African American and South Asian Indian American, hopes to become America’s first female president.
Trump was repeatedly questioned about his choice of running mate during a combative Q&A session with Rachel Scott of ABC News.
JD Vance has been criticized for referring to women without children as “childless cat ladies” and implying they should have less say in the democratic process.
The former president, currently facing several criminal cases, including over his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, claimed: “Historically, the vice president has little impact on the election. I mean, virtually none.
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“You’re voting for the president, and you can have a vice president who’s outstanding in every way, and I think JD is… but you’re not voting that way.
“You’re voting for me. If you like me, I’m going to win. If you don’t, I’m not going to,” he added.
Trump was also asked about his pledge to pardon people convicted for their roles in the January 6th, 2021 riot at the US Capitol, specifically if he would pardon those who assaulted police officers.
He affirmed “oh, absolutely I would,” and went on: “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”
Scott pointed out they have been convicted and therefore are not innocent.
“Well, they were convicted by a very, very tough system,” he retorted.
At the same conference in Chicago, Trump expressed his opposition to everyone having electric cars, despite being endorsed by billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla.
