Trump Falsely Questions Kamala Harris's Race and Calls Out Interviewer as 'Rude' at NABJ Convention
Former President Donald Trump sparked controversy at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) annual convention in Chicago when he falsely questioned Vice President Kamala Harris's race and called out an interviewer as "rude." Trump's remarks have drawn widespread criticism and highlighted ongoing racial tensions in American politics.
During a sit-down interview with three prominent Black journalists, Trump claimed that Harris "happened to turn Black" after years of "only promoting Indian heritage." This assertion is patently false. Harris, who is biracial, attended historically Black Howard University and pledged at a historically Black sorority. As a senator, she was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Trump's comments came in response to a series of challenging questions from Rachel Scott of ABC News. Scott addressed the "elephant in the room," noting that Trump's appearance had divided the conference and led to a co-chair resigning. She confronted Trump with a litany of his past statements, including his use of derogatory language towards Black district attorneys and journalists.
Scott asked, "Why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?" Trump replied, "I don't think I've ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner," calling Scott's question "nasty" and "rude." He then touted himself as "the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln."
The interview also included Trump questioning Harris's racial identity. He claimed, "I've known her a long time, indirectly, and 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. So I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?"
Scott interjected to remind Trump that Harris attended a historically Black college, to which he doubled down, saying, "She was Indian all the way. And then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a Black person. And I think someone should look into that too."
Harris's identity as a Black woman has long been in the spotlight as the child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. She has referred to herself as a "daughter of the civil rights movement" and has consistently embraced her Black identity. "I was born Black. I will die Black," she said in 2019.
In response to Trump's comments, Harris told a crowd in Houston, "The American people deserve better." Her campaign issued a statement condemning Trump's remarks, calling them a "clear demonstration of who he is."
The NABJ interview also touched on other contentious issues, including Trump's stance on police immunity and his claim that immigrants are taking "Black jobs." When pressed to clarify what a "Black job" was, Trump did not elaborate beyond defining it as "anybody that has a job."
Trump also repeated his promise to pardon Jan. 6 rioters, stating, "If they're innocent, I would pardon them." This despite the fact that many have already been convicted for their roles in the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In the aftermath of the interview, Trump declared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he "crushed" the interview despite what he considered offensive questions. "The questions were Rude and Nasty, often in the form of a statement, but we CRUSHED IT!" he wrote.
The exchange at the NABJ convention underscores the deep divisions and racial tensions that continue to plague American politics. As the 2024 election approaches, these issues are likely to remain at the forefront, shaping the discourse and potentially influencing the outcome of the race.