Trump's False Claims About VP Harris' Racial Identity Stir Controversy

Senator JD Vance defended former President Trump's false claim about Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity. Trump suggested Harris downplayed her Black heritage, prompting Republicans to echo these claims. Harris, however, has a long history of embracing both her Black and Indian roots, which she has publicly discussed throughout her political career.

Ohio Senator JD Vance on Wednesday defended a false claim made by former President Donald Trump regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity. Trump alleged that Harris, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, had downplayed her Black heritage.

Speaking in Michigan, Vance suggested that Harris pretends to be different depending on her audience. This sentiment echoed Trump's recent comments at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago. Florida Representative Byron Donalds, a Black man and prominent Trump supporter, reiterated the claim on ABC's “This Week.”

The Harris campaign has refrained from commenting specifically on Trump's falsehoods. However, the vice president condemned Trump's divisive rhetoric during a speech to a Black sorority last week. Harris has consistently identified with both her Black and Indian heritage throughout her career, making history as the first African-American and Indian-American to hold numerous prominent positions.