Donald Trump questions Kamala Harris' ethnicity at NABJ Convention, Internet calls it 'offensive'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Donald Trump has spurred a new controversy after he asked Kamala Harris if she really is a Black woman. 

The former president raised the question during the country's largest annual gathering of Black journalists, NABJ Convention, on Wednesday, July 31.

"Is she Indian or is she Black?" Trump said of his opponent in the presidential race. "She was Indian all the way, and all of a sudden she made a turn and became a Black person," he added.

Kamala Harris' diverse ethnic background

Kamala Harris, whose mother was of Indian origin and father is Black, became the first Black and Asian American US vice president in 2020.

"What he just said is repulsive. It's insulting," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said while responding to Trump's remarks. 

Harris, for a long time, identified herself as both Black and South Asian American and since launching her campaign for the office, she has been attacked online on subjects like her race and gender, according to US News.

The interview session began with Trump calling out ABC reporter on her “horrible," "hostile," and "disgrace" questioning, further referring it to as a "fake" network.

"I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln," Trump said while answering why Blacks should vote for him.

Trump's first-ever appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention in Chicago faced protests and a co-chair of the convention had to even quit over it.

Biden won Black voters 92%-8% over Trump in 2020, according to Pew Research.

In addition, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, July 30, showed Trump leading Harris 43%-42%, within the poll's margin of error.

This means the gains made by Trump against Biden have started to recede with Harris now in the mix. 

Internet reacts to Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris' ethnicity

Internet reactions to Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris' ethnicity have been mixed. One person said, "And they are giving him a pass. Unreal!"

A second user commented, "That... happened. You can all clutch your pearls all you want, but Kamala Harris prioritizes different parts of her ethnicity when it benefits her to do it."

"So offensive. She “all of a sudden made a turn and became a black person…”" one slammed Trump for his comment.

A user opined, "I guess asking Donald Trump questions is hostile.🙄"

"Because that’s exactly what happened. One week, the AP said she was of Indian decent, then the next week, BOOM…she was African American," raised another user. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.