Republicans are scolding former President Trump for his racial attack on Vice President Harris, believing it’s a losing message that sets the party up for defeat in November.
Trump on Wednesday questioned whether Harris is really Black, or if she is trying to identify that way for political gain.
The remarks at the National Association of Black Journalists convention set off a media firestorm and provoked blowback from both sides of the aisle.
“It’s not a great idea for either of the parties to be playing racial identity politics, whether it’s ‘white dudes for Kamala’ or whatever this is. … We should spend less time talking about race and more time talking about how we’re going to get people to work,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told Axios.
“It’s unacceptable and abhorrent to attack Vice President Harris or anyone’s racial identity. The American people deserve better,” GOP Senate candidate and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said on X.
“The campaign is, needs to be, must be about the issues, and there’s plenty to talk about. I just think that’s where the focus needs to be. That’s how we’re going to win in November,” Senate GOP leader John Thune (S.D.) told The Hill.
The remarks set Harris up for an easy rebuke. At a campaign rally in Houston, Harris cast herself as a uniter against Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
“The American people deserve better. The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us — they are an essential source of our strength.”
Trump doubled down in a post on Truth Social.
“Crazy Kamala is saying she’s Indian, not Black. This is a big deal. Stone cold phony. She uses everybody, including her racial identity!”
Republicans have been attacking Harris for her policy flip-flops — she has moved to the center on a handful of issues after tacking hard to the left in the 2020 Democratic primary — while Trump’s team has sought to cast Harris as a political shapeshifter who will say or do anything to get elected.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), made this case when asked about Trump’s remarks.
“She is not who she pretends to be. She’ll say one thing to one audience, another thing to another audience. … She’s flip-flopped on every issue. She’s fake, she’s phony.”
Perspectives:
The Free Press: Republicans, you’re going after Harris all wrong.
The Hill: Vance’s disparagement of childless Americans will haunt GOP.
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