At the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago, Donald Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, made misleading comments about his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Trump suggested that Harris had previously downplayed her Black heritage, saying, "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." This drew jeers from the audience of about 1,000 people. Trump added, "So I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black? But you know what, I respect either one, but she obviously doesn't, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn, and she went—she became a Black person."
Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, has consistently identified as both Black and Asian. She is the first Black and Asian American person to serve as Vice President. In response to Trump's comments, Harris told members of the historically Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho in Houston that his remarks were "yet another reminder" of the divisiveness and disrespect during his presidency. "The American people deserve better," she stated.
Since launching her presidential campaign, Harris has faced numerous sexist and racist attacks, with some far-right figures questioning her racial identity. Republican leaders have urged members to focus on Harris's policies rather than personal attacks. Trump has openly dismissed calls to soften his rhetoric, stating at a campaign rally, "I'm not gonna be nice!"
During the NABJ interview, which started tensely, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott listed Trump's history of racist remarks and questioned why Black voters should support him. Trump called the question "horrible," "hostile," and "a disgrace," while criticizing ABC as a "fake" network. He claimed, "I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln," which drew groans from the audience.
Trump repeated claims from a June debate that migrants crossing the southern U.S. border would take away "Black jobs." When Scott asked what a "Black job" was, Trump replied, "A Black job is anybody with a job." He also did not address claims from some Republicans that Harris was a "DEI hire," saying, "I don't know." "DEI" stands for "diversity, equity, and inclusion," initiatives aimed at increasing representation of marginalized groups in the workforce.
When questioned about the police immunity issue following the death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed in her home by a sheriff's deputy in Illinois, Trump admitted unfamiliarity with the case, which surprised some audience members. He added, "It didn't look good to me."
The interview, scheduled for an hour, started late due to audio issues and ended abruptly after 35 minutes when the Trump campaign claimed they were out of time.
At a rally in Pennsylvania later, Trump did not mention his comments about Harris's racial identity but showed old news articles emphasizing her Indian-American background. He criticized Harris for increased immigration during the Biden administration and played a video of her supporting a fracking ban during her 2019 presidential campaign, though her current campaign denies plans to ban fracking.
Republican strategist Whit Ayres criticized Trump's comments about Harris's racial background as "not a wise move," suggesting that there were many policy issues to address instead.
According to the 2020 census, 33.8 million Americans identified as multiracial, up from nine million in 2010. Trump's invitation to the NABJ convention sparked backlash, leading to the resignation of a co-chair in protest. During the event, some of Trump's false statements prompted murmurs and laughter from the crowd, with someone at one point shouting, "Sir, have you no shame?"
Trump's appearance at the convention was part of his broader strategy to court Black voters, including rallies in cities with large Black populations like Atlanta. His campaign is encouraged by polls showing diminished support for President Joe Biden among Black men. Black voters have traditionally been a strong Democratic base, with 92% supporting Biden over Trump in 2020, according to Pew Research. However, Biden's decision to step down in favor of Harris has increased enthusiasm for her candidacy among voters of color and younger voters.