Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on a panel of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Vincent Alban
U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Questions Vice President Kamala Harris’s Racial Identity During Journalists’ Convention
During a contentious interview at the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) annual convention, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity. Addressing an audience of approximately 1,000 journalists, Trump queried, “Is she Indian or is she Black?” He added, “She was Indian all the way, and all of a sudden she made a turn and became a Black person.” Vice President Harris, of Indian and Jamaican descent, has consistently identified as both Black and Asian, being the first person of such heritage to hold the office of Vice President.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Trump’s remarks, calling them “repulsive” and “insulting” during a briefing. Since the launch of her presidential campaign earlier this month, Harris has encountered numerous sexist and racist attacks online. Republican Party leaders have urged their members to avoid personal attacks and instead focus on policy issues. However, Trump has stated that he will not moderate his rhetoric, telling supporters, “I’m not gonna be nice!”
Trump also avoided commenting on claims from some Republicans that Harris was a “DEI hire,” a term referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives aimed at addressing workplace inequities. “I don’t know,” Trump said when asked if Harris’s selection was influenced by such considerations.
The interview at the NABJ convention in Chicago began tensely when ABC News reporter Rachel Scott cited a series of Trump’s past racist comments and questioned his appeal to Black voters. Trump dismissed the question as “horrible,” “hostile,” and a “disgrace,” and labeled ABC News as a “fake” network. He asserted, “I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.”
During the interview, Trump reiterated his claim from a previous debate that migrants crossing the U.S. southern border would take away “Black jobs,” a statement that has drawn criticism from Black leaders. When Scott pressed for clarification, asking, “What exactly is a ‘Black job,’ sir?” Trump responded, “A Black job is anybody with a job.”
Regarding his stance on police immunity following the death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Illinois, Trump admitted he was not familiar with the case but remarked, “it didn’t look good to me,” which elicited gasps from the audience.
The session, which commenced over an hour late due to purported audio issues, was originally scheduled for one hour but concluded abruptly after 30 minutes, as the Trump campaign cited time constraints.
Trump’s invitation to the convention had been controversial, resulting in the resignation of one of the event’s co-chairs in protest. During the interview, some of Trump’s statements were met with murmurs and laughter from the crowd. At one point, an audience member exclaimed, “Sir, have you no shame?” before being hushed by others.
Leah Mallory, a 21-year-old student at Fordham University, described the conversation as “unreal,” expressing disappointment that many questions were not fully addressed.
In his efforts to court Black voters, Trump has organized events in cities with significant Black populations, including an upcoming rally in Atlanta. Trump had previously garnered some support from Black men, an area where former President Joe Biden had struggled. Despite Biden winning the Black vote 92%-8% over Trump in 2020, his decision to step aside for Harris might complicate Trump’s efforts to maintain his gains among Black voters.
The presidential race is expected to hinge on narrow margins in key battleground states. A national Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday indicated a near tie between Trump and Harris, with Trump leading by 43% to 42%, within the poll’s margin of error.
Ken Lemon, President of the NABJ, emphasized the importance of providing members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable, despite acknowledging the concerns expressed by some members. Trump is the first Republican presidential candidate to address the NABJ convention since George W. Bush in 2004.
Trump has a history of contentious interactions with the media, frequently labeling news outlets as “fake news” and clashing with the White House press corps during his presidency from 2017 to 2021. Vice President Harris, who did not attend the NABJ convention, was scheduled to address a Black sorority in Houston later the same day.
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