Trump questions whether Harris is 'Black' at conference of Black journalists

During a contentious interview at the country's largest annual gathering of Black journalists on Wednesday, US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sparked controversy by questioning whether his Democratic rival Kamala Harris is "Black."

"Is she Indian or is she Black?" Trump asked about his opponent in the presidential race, prompting a mix of jeers and boos from an audience of about 1,000 people. "She was Indian all the way, and all of a sudden she made a turn and became a Black person."

Harris, who has Indian and Jamaican heritage, identifies as both Black and Asian. She is the first Black and Asian American to serve as US vice president.

In response to Trump's remarks, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the comments as "repulsive" and "insulting."

Since launching her White House campaign, Harris has faced a wave of sexist and racist attacks online, with some far-right accounts questioning her racial identity. Republican Party leaders have urged lawmakers to focus on her policy positions rather than personal attacks.

Despite these calls, Trump has continued to use personal insults against Harris and has stated he will not tone down his rhetoric. "I'm not gonna be nice!" he told supporters at a campaign rally.

On Wednesday, Trump declined to say whether Harris was a "DEI hire," a term some Republicans have used to suggest she was chosen based on race or gender rather than qualifications. "I don't know," he said.

DEI stands for "diversity, equity, and inclusion," initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of women and people of color in the workforce to address longstanding inequities and discrimination.

The interview at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention in Chicago began tensely when ABC News reporter Rachel Scott listed a series of racist comments Trump had made and asked why Black voters should support him.

Trump called the question "horrible," "hostile," and a "disgrace," and labeled ABC as a "fake" network. He claimed, "I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln."

Trump reiterated a claim from the June presidential debate, stating that migrants crossing the U.S. southern border would take away "Black jobs," a term that drew criticism from some Black leaders. When asked what a "Black job" was, Trump replied, "A Black job is anybody with a job."

When questioned about his stance on granting police officers immunity following the death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed by a sheriff's deputy in Illinois, Trump admitted he didn't know much about the case but added that "it didn't look good to me."

The interview, which started more than an hour late due to audio equipment issues according to the Trump campaign, was originally scheduled for an hour but ended abruptly after 30 minutes. An NABJ spokesperson did not immediately comment on the delay.

Trump's invitation to the event received backlash from some members, leading a co-chair of the convention to step down in protest. Throughout the interview, Trump's false statements were met with murmurs and laughter from the crowd. At one point, someone yelled, "Sir, have you no shame?" before being shushed by others.

Leah Mallory, a 21-year-old student at Fordham University, described the conversation as "unreal." "I honestly feel like it wasn't as conducive as we hoped it would be," she said. "I feel like what we heard were several things that he said before, and there were questions that weren't fully answered."

Trump has been actively courting Black voters and has held events in cities with large Black populations, including an upcoming rally in Atlanta on Saturday.