Former President Donald Trump — now this year’s Republican presidential nominee — was widely condemned this week for a tirade against Vice President Kamala Harris at a convention of the National Association of Black Journalists where he appeared for an onstage interview.
Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee after the recent withdrawal from this year’s election of President Joe Biden, who endorsed Harris to take his place as Democrats’ expected pick. Trump suggested that Harris was being deceptive and/or conniving in identifying as Black. The vice president’s father is Jamaican, and her mother was from India.
“Only she can speak to her experience. Only she can speak to what it’s like. She’s the only person that can do that. And I think it’s insulting for anybody — it doesn’t matter if it’s a former leader, a former president — it is insulting,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a subsequent press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “And we have to put — she is the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris. We have to put some respect on her name, period.”
Trump was also questioned at the journalists’ event about some of his past tirades against targets including former President Barack Obama and four Congresswomen of color — questioning to which Trump did not take well.
“Well, first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner — first question,” Trump told interviewer Rachel Scott onstage. “You don’t even say ‘hello, how are you?’ Are you with ABC? ‘Cause I think they’re a fake news network — a terrible network. And I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit.”
Meanwhile, Harris remains active on the campaign trail as this year’s general election rapidly approaches. Her selection for vice president is apparently set for public reveal just days from now.
