Former President Donald Trump recently sparked controversy with remarks questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity. During an event with the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago, Trump suggested that Harris “happened to turn Black” some years ago, implying a sudden change in her identity. He remarked, “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago,” and questioned whether she identifies as Indian or Black.
Trump’s comments came in response to a question about Republican critiques of Harris as a “DEI hire,” reflecting concerns over diversity and inclusion. The former president’s statement has been met with criticism, with Harris denouncing the remarks as divisive and disrespectful. Speaking to Sigma Gamma Rho sorority members in Houston, Harris described Trump’s comments as part of “the same old show,” emphasizing that Americans deserve better.
Fact-checking Trump’s claim reveals inaccuracies. Kamala Harris has consistently identified with both Black and Indian heritage throughout her career. Her official Senate biography highlights her as “the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history.” In her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris discusses her mixed-race identity and upbringing, noting her upbringing with a strong appreciation for both her Indian and African-American heritage.
Harris’s identity reflects her parents’ backgrounds—her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was an Indian-American cancer researcher, while her father, Donald Harris, is Jamaican-American. Her father emigrated from Jamaica, a nation with a predominantly African-descended population, while her mother was of Tamil Indian descent.
The comments have ignited debates over identity and representation, underscoring the complexities of racial and ethnic heritage in American politics.