"Crazy" and "not Black": The Ways Trump Has Gone After Harris' Race and Gender

In a political landscape where race and gender remain pivotal issues, former President Donald Trump has intensified his attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris as she steps into the spotlight following President Joe Biden's decision to endorse her as the Democratic presidential candidate. Over the last two weeks, Trump has not only sought to undermine Harris’s credibility but has also engaged in racially charged and gender-based rhetoric aimed at appealing to his base while potentially alienating voters he aims to reach.

Trump’s Shift: From Biden to Harris

With President Biden now off the ballot, Trump faces a formidable opponent in Kamala Harris, who brings both racial and gender diversity to the presidential race. Harris, whose ancestry is both Indian and Jamaican, stands poised to make history as the first female president and the first Asian American president if elected. Moreover, at 59, Harris represents a generational contrast to Trump, who is 20 years her senior. Her appeal to younger voters and voters of color—demographics that previously showed apathy towards Biden—poses a challenge for Trump, who is now tasked with reshaping his campaign strategy to counter her popularity.

Questioning Racial Identity

One of Trump’s primary lines of attack has centered on questioning Harris's racial identity. At a recent panel at the National Association of Black Journalists' conference, Trump suggested that Harris had “become Black” for political gain, a blatant misrepresentation of her identity as a biracial individual. He remarked, “I did not know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black… Is she Indian or is she Black?” This rhetoric serves not only to delegitimize Harris’s identity but also to suggest that her political persona is disingenuous.

Social media has become another battlefield for Trump, who referred to Harris as “Crazy Kamala” for allegedly claiming to identify more with her Indian heritage than her Black identity. The insidious nature of these comments highlights a troubling trend where the authenticity of a politician’s racial and cultural identity is questioned simply due to political competition. Trump's claims frequently disregard Harris’s own proclamations and her history, including her attendance at Howard University, a prestigious historically Black college, and her involvement in Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first African American sorority.

Gendered Insults: Undermining Competence

Beyond his racially charged comments, Trump has also unleashed a barrage of gender-based critiques, questioning Harris's competence and suggesting that she lacks the gravitas necessary for a position of leadership. In an interview with Fox News, he remarked that foreign leaders would treat her “like a play toy,” grounded solely in perceptions about her appearance. This aligns tightly with a long history of women in politics, where their competence is diluted by sexist tropes about their emotional stability and toughness.

Such rhetoric was similarly employed against his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, when Trump claimed she did not have “the look” to be president. By invoking these stereotypes, Trump seeks not just to belittle Harris—he attempts to frame her as weak and unqualified in the eyes of voters who may be swayed by traditional views of leadership in the political arena.

Demeaning Labeling: Intellectual Capacity

Unsurprisingly, Trump has also resorted to calling Harris “Dumb as a Rock” shortly after Biden’s endorsement. Such blatant insult tactics, though not unusual for Trump, highlight a recurring pattern in his approach toward women and people of color in politics—labels that resonate with derogatory historical echoes. This form of attack minimizes her capabilities and frames her as lesser, echoing the age-old stereotypes that challenge the intelligence of women, especially women of color, in powerful positions.

The Birther Conspiracy Redux

Additionally, Trump has revisited his notorious proclivity for birther conspiracies, casting doubt on Harris’s legitimacy as a candidate. He recently amplified baseless claims propagated by far-right activists that question her racial identity and familial history. These claims, while disregarded by historical context (with slave-owning ancestry frequently cited as “proof” of non-Black status), serve to perpetuate division and foster an environment of skepticism surrounding her candidacy.

The "Crazy" Narrative

Finally, Trump’s repeated labeling of Harris as “crazy” mirrors a theme historically used against females in leadership. This narrative of instability has been weaponized to undermine women’s authority, as seen with Clinton during the 2016 election. By depicting Harris as “radical” and “crazy,” Trump not only aims to galvanize his supporters but risks pushing moderate voters away, who may view these attacks as excessive and unsubstantiated.

Conclusion: A Risky Strategy

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Trump’s strategy of leveraging race and gender attacks against Kamala Harris could serve as a double-edged sword. While it may energize his base, it simultaneously raises the risk of alienating swing voters and moderate Republicans who could view the attacks as racially insensitive and sexist. The evolving landscape of American politics necessitates a degree of sensitivity to such demographics—an aspect Trump may overlook in his quest to regain the presidency. As Harris embraces her historic candidacy, the forthcoming months will undoubtedly challenge traditional norms of campaigning, forcing both major candidates to recalibrate their strategies in an increasingly diverse and dynamic electoral environment.