Trump Is A Racist Not Fit To Be President

On July 3, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump in a 30-minute wide-ranging Question and Answer event before the National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention, took racial swipes at Vice President Kamala Harris by challenging her racial identity.

Trump was interviewed by a panel of African American Journalists that included ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Semafor’s Kadia Goba and Fox News’ Harris Faulkner.  Rachel Scott began the interview by asking Trump this:

“You have pushed false claims about some of your rivals, from Nikki Haley to former President Barack Obama, saying that they were not born in the United States, which is not true. You have told four congresswomen of color, who were American citizens, to go back to where they came from. You have used words like ‘animal’ and ‘rabid’ to describe Black district attorneys. You have attacked Black journalists, calling them a ‘loser,’ saying the questions they ask are, quote, ‘stupid’ and ‘racist.’ You’ve had dinner with a White supremacist at your Mar-a-Lago resort. So my question, sir – now that you are asking Black supporters to vote for you, why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?”

Trump immediately became combative and asked Scott if she was with ABC news, saying the network was “a fake news network” and “a terrible network.” Trump said this:

“Well, first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question so – in such a horrible manner, first question. You don’t even say, ‘Hello. How are you?’ … I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit. I love the Black population of this country. I’ve done so much for the Black population of this country, including employment, including opportunity zones with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. … I’ve done so much, and, you know, I say this: Historically Black colleges and universities were out of money, they were stone cold broke, and I saved them. I gave them long-term financing, and nobody else was doing it.”

Trump then went on to say this about Vice President Kamala Harris:

“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?  … I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went – she became a Black person. … I think somebody should look into that too.”

Shortly after the panel ended, Trump on his Truth Social doubled down on his attack against Harris’ racial identity, sharing a video where she is cooking with actress Mindy Kaling, who is of South Asian decent. During the video, Harris and Kaling talk about their Indian culture. Harris in the video told Kaling that she looks like “the entire one half of my family.”

Harris is the first female vice president in U.S. history and also the first Black woman to hold the office. As a college undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, the nation’s most prominent historically Black college and university, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. She later attended the University of California, Hastings College of Law,  where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. As a U.S. senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, supporting legislation to strengthen voting rights and to reform policing.

Vice President Harris responded to Trump’s National Association of Black Journalists interview the same day during remarks in Houston, Texas. Harris was addressing a historically Black sorority, Sigma Gamma Sorority, during its 60th Biennial Boule.  Harris said this:

“It was the same old show − the divisiveness and the disrespect.  And let me just say: 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.”

STEALINNG BLACK AMERICAN JOBS

Trump doubled down on comments he has made accusing immigrants of stealing the jobs of Black Americans. Trump said this:

“I will tell you that coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs”.

ABC News senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott quickly followed up and asked:

“What exactly is a ‘Black job,’ sir,”

Trump responded “A Black job is anybody that has a job” and continued to use racist rhetoric against migrants coming to the United States.

At one point, Trump said this:

“I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.”

The audience responded with a mix of boos and little applause.

PLEDGE TO PARDON JANUARY 6 CAPITOL RIOTERS

Trump was asked about his pledge to pardon people convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and specifically whether he would pardon those who assaulted police officers. Trump said this:

“Oh, absolutely I would. … If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”

It was pointed out to Trump  they have been convicted and therefore are not innocent. Trump responded:

“Well, they were convicted by a very, very tough system.”

Trump  defended  his supporters who entered the Capitol on January  6 by saying “Nothing is perfect in life.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYISIS

Throughout his political career, Trump repeatedly questioned the backgrounds of opponents who are racial minorities. He did that with President Barrack Obama questioning his birth in the United States as well as Republican Niki Haley.  Trumps attacks become more and more vicious when it comes to woman. Trump on more than one occasion has made it clear with his words and conduct that he is a racist of the highest degree who is not fit to be president.

Excerpted from Pete Dinelli’s Blog of Aug 1, 2024.