Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and ABC News host George Stephanopoulos engaged in a heated exchange on “This Week” over false claims made by former President Donald Trump regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. Donalds repeated Trump’s comments insinuating that Harris only recently embraced her Black identity, despite her consistent identification as Black and Indian-American. Stephanopoulos pushed back, pointing out Harris’ background, education, and involvement in Black organizations. Donalds continued to question Harris’ identity, claiming it was a conversation on social media, which Stephanopoulos condemned as baseless and harmful.
Harris responded to Trump’s remarks by calling them divisive and disrespectful during an address to a historically Black sorority. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie commented on the situation, saying that Trump’s attacks are a sign that the race is tightening and that Trump is resorting to old tactics out of fear. Polling suggests that Harris has boosted Biden’s chances in the election, with some polls showing a deadlocked race or giving Harris a slight lead. Christie characterized Trump’s behavior as personal and juvenile, driven by fear of Harris’ impact on voter turnout, particularly among Black voters. Overall, the exchange highlighted the ongoing challenges of racism and misinformation in politics, particularly related to the identities of Black and mixed-race individuals like Harris.
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