- Donalds and Stephanopoulos clash over Harris’ identity
- Donalds dismisses identity issue as “phoney controversy”
- GOP leaders advise focusing on Harris’ policies
Byron Donalds, a Trump loyalist, and ABC host George Stephanopoulos sparred on Sunday over Republicans’ attack line challenging Kamala Harris’ racial identity.
During an appearance with ABC’s This Week, the Republican Florida lawmaker described the issue as a “phoney controversy” and stated, “I don’t really care.” He echoed the former president’s remarks at the NABJ convention, saying that Kamala Harris was the first Indian American senator in the US Senate, as reported by the Associated Press. Now that she’s running nationwide, the campaign has clearly transformed. “They’re talking a lot about her father’s heritage and her Black identity.”
Donalds then said, “It doesn’t really matter.”
Stephanopoulos responded, saying, “If it doesn’t matter, why are you all questioning her again? She has always identified as a Black lady. She is multiracial. She has a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, and she has always associated with both. “Why are you questioning that?”
“First and foremost, George, this is a topic that is currently being discussed on social media. A lot of people are attempting to figure this out. But, again, that’s a subsidiary issue, not the main one,” Donalds said.
Stephanopoulos responded, adding, “Sir, one second. You have just done it again. Why do you always question her racial identity? Donalds responded: “You want me to talk?”
“I want you to answer my question,” Stephanopoulos said.
Donald Trump’s statements come despite the fact that critical Republican officials, like South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have said their party should avoid such attacks.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Graham stated, “Every day we’re talking about her heritage and not her… record.” It’s a terrific day for her but a dreadful day for us.
Meanwhile, Axios reported last month that Johnson encouraged Republican lawmakers to focus on Harris’ ideas rather than her background. According to the source, during a closed-door meeting, Donalds asked members to ‘hold off on editorialising’ on Kamala. “Just stick to her disastrous record,” said one Republican legislator who was present.
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The attacks on the vice president’s racial identity coincide with Trump’s announcement that he will face her on Fox News. At the same time, Harris insists on ABC, the initial network designated for the second presidential debate.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the previously arranged debate against Biden on ABC has been cancelled due to a conflict of interest. He also indicated that he is in a lawsuit with ABC Network and George Papadopoulos.
Harris’ team has declined Trump’s proposal to hold the debate on the Republican-friendly network, with campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler saying, “Donald Trump is running scared, trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to, and running straight to Fox News to bail him out.
