USA: Trump faces backlash over false Harris statements - "an old, fearful man"

WATSON USA: Trump faces backlash over false Harris statements - "an old, fearful man" 08/01/2024, 10:52 Anna Von Stefenelli First, the presidential candidate in the USA, Donald Trump, regularly took aim at US President Joe Biden. After Joe Biden withdrew from a renewed candidacy, the new candidate Kamala Harris is his new preferred victim. He also took aim at her on Wednesday. He falsely questioned Harris' origins. He claimed that the US Vice President "accidentally turned black" a few years ago after she "suddenly made a change" in her identity. His reasoning was shocking. And the statements did not take long to face back. Kamala Harris was not the only one to react to the false statements. Numerous political greats in the USA jumped to her side and sharply criticized her. Even a member of Trump's family is opposing him. USA: Trump makes false statement about Harris' origins The questionable statements arose when an interviewer asked Trump a question at a meeting of black journalists (NABJ conference). He asked Trump why black voters should support a candidate who has a history of racist attacks on political rivals. Trump responded with an attack and by questioning Harris' origins. He said: "She has always been of Indian descent and has only promoted Indian heritage. I didn't know she was black until she happened to become black a few years ago, and now she wants to be known as black. So I don't know, is she Indian or is she black?" He respects both, but she herself doesn't do that, he claims. "Because she was Indian all along, and then she suddenly made a U-turn and became black," he said, adding that someone should investigate. Shortly afterwards, he followed up on his platform Truth Social: "Crazy Kamala says she's Indian and not black. That's a big deal. A stone cold lie. She uses everything, including her ethnic identity!" The post contained a video from 2019 in which Harris and comedian Mindy Kaling cook Masala Dosa together, a popular South Indian dish. In the clip, they talked about their South Indian origins. Trump's statement about Harris is out of thin air - she fires back Background: Kamala Harris has identified as black since she was a child. Harris' mother was Indian and her father Jamaican, both of whom emigrated to the USA. Harris was born in Oakland, California. She attended a historically African-American university there, Howard University in Washington. And: She is the first female, first black and first South Asian vice president. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Long before the start of Kamala Harris' career, she identified as black. Kamala Harris reacted to Trump's controversial statements during an appearance before students in Houston: "We all remember the four years (Editor's note: when Trump was US President). Today we got a little refresher." It was the "same old show" - with divisiveness and disrespect. Then she added: "Let me say one thing: The American people deserve better. The people deserve someone at the top who tells the truth. Someone who doesn't react to facts with anger and hatred." In addition, the USA needs someone who understands that differences do not divide, but are the "source of strength". While Trump's vice president, J. D. Vance, defended Trump, numerous other Republicans avoided the debate about Harris's origins, according to "CNN". Voices from the camp such as John Thune, Steve Daines and John Barrasso said that the election campaign should focus on politics and the differences of opinion. Politicians are coming to Harris's aid - including Trump's nephew Several high-ranking Democrats condemned Trump's statements and expressed their outrage. Among them was Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. He described Trump as a black woman as "racist", "insulting" and "obnoxious". Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made similar comments about the "racism" that Trump was displaying. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who is considered a possible running mate for Kamala Harris, also sharply criticized Donald Trump's remarks. He told reporters that they were "the comments of a desperate, frightened old man who, especially in the last week, has been kicked in the ass by an experienced prosecutor." Kelly believes that he is simply expressing Trump's concern.