Donald Trump recently sparked controversy by suggesting that Kamala Harris “turned Black” for political gain. His remarks have had a significant impact on how many multiracial voters view the presidential candidates.
During an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Trump questioned Harris’s racial identity, saying, “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.”
He further asked, “Is she Indian or is she Black?”
Kamala Harris, whose mother is Indian and father is Jamaican, is both. If elected, she would make history as the first female and first Asian American president.
Many multiracial American voters have found Trump’s comments familiar and troubling. While some may not fully support Harris, they feel his remarks highlight a deeper issue about racial identity.
Bria Beddoe, 31, an African American and Trinidadian, expressed mixed feelings about Harris. She criticized Harris’s past criminal justice policies and President Joe Biden’s stance on Gaza.
However, Trump’s comments shifted her perspective, making her more sympathetic toward Harris.
Beddoe, who lives in Washington, D.C., has faced similar ridicule for her diverse heritage. She said Trump’s rhetoric was triggering and relatable, as she has experienced disbelief about her mixed racial identity.
Throughout her career, Harris’s racial background has been a topic of debate. Critics argue that she does not emphasize her heritage enough, while some right-wing voices accuse her of using her racial identity for political gain.
Dhanashree Thorat, a professor at Mississippi State University, noted that some people treat Harris as if she were two separate individuals, one Black and one South Asian. She stressed that Harris is neither; she is both.
Emily Grullón, 33, an Afro-Indigenous Latina with Dominican roots, said Trump’s comments reflect the microaggressions mixed-race people often face.
According to the source, she hopes this controversy will prompt a broader conversation about these experiences.
Grullón, an assistant professor at West Coast University, has also faced questions about her racial identity and her ability to speak Spanish.
Despite her reservations about Harris’s positions on various issues, Grullón finds Harris to be a better candidate than Biden and supports her based on her values and community needs.
When asked about the backlash to Trump’s comments, Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, dismissed it as “backlash from the truth.”
Harris addressed the issue during a Houston event for the historically Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho. She condemned the divisiveness and disrespect of Trump’s remarks, asserting that the American people deserve better.
Trump later doubled down on his comments, accusing Harris of being a “stone-cold phony” and questioning her racial identity on social media.
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Some argue that Trump’s race- and gender-based attacks may backfire, alienating women and voters of color.
Joe Hill, 41, who is Bolivian and white, said Trump’s comments have made him more determined to support Harris. Hill, whose mother shares a similar heritage with Harris, found Trump’s remarks especially offensive.