Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., engaged in a tense exchange with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos over false claims made by former President Donald Trump about Vice President Kamala Harris. Donalds repeated Trump’s insinuation that Harris only recently embraced her Black identity, despite her always identifying as such and having a mixed-race background of Black and Indian-American heritage. Harris attended Howard University, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and has been part of the Black community throughout her career.
Donalds continued to question Harris’ racial identity based on baseless claims, leading Stephanopoulos to call out the smear and defend Harris. Harris responded to the attack by calling it divisive and disrespectful. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie noted that Trump’s attack on Harris is an attempt to stir controversy and distract from the fact that Harris has energized the Democratic base and improved their chances in the upcoming election. Polling shows that Harris is competitive with Trump and may even attract more Black voters than Biden.
Christie criticized Trump’s behavior as juvenile and personal, suggesting that Trump’s attacks on Harris are a sign of his desperation as the election approaches. Overall, the exchange highlighted the ongoing attempts to undermine Harris’ identity and political record, while also showcasing the impact she has had on the Democratic Party.
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