Sen. JD Vance responded to a CNN reporter’s question about former President Trump’s comments regarding Kamala Harris’ race, especially as he is the “father of three biracial children.”
During his visit to the U.S. southern border on Thursday, Vance criticized Harris’ performance as the border czar at a press conference in Cochise County, Arizona. CNN correspondent Steve Contorno asked him about Trump’s remarks from the previous day, where Trump stated at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention that Harris “became a Black person” after previously identifying as Indian.
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“Trump remarked that Vice President Harris is ‘suddenly Black.’ As a father of three biracial children, do his comments concern you?” the CNN correspondent inquired, in a clip shared on X.
Vance is married to attorney Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, and they have three biracial children together.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance embraces his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance during the Republican National Convention Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“They don’t concern me at all,” Vance responded. “All he stated is that Kamala Harris is a chameleon. Two days ago in Georgia, she put on a fake southern accent, and she is everything to everyone, adapting her persona based on her audience.
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“It is entirely reasonable for the [former] president to point that out,” Vance added. “That’s all he did. Look, she is campaigning as a tough-on-crime prosecutor, yet she implemented open border policies. She claims to support the police, despite having wanted to defund them just three years ago. It’s fair to call out her inconsistency depending on who she’s speaking to.”
Trump made his remarks on Wednesday after ABC News’ Rachel Scott inquired whether he agreed with Republican lawmakers who labeled Harris a “DEI,” or diversity, equity, and inclusion, hire.
“I’ve known her for quite some time, albeit indirectly… and she has always identified with her Indian heritage. I didn’t realize she was Black until a few years ago when she decided to adopt that identity. Now she wants to be acknowledged as Black. So, I question—is she Indian or is she Black?”
US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a speech at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on July 18, 2024. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Scott later informed Trump that Harris has always identified as Black, noting her attendance at a “historically Black college.”
“I have no issue with either identity, but she seemingly does, given her prior emphasis on being Indian. Then, suddenly, she transitions to identifying as a Black person,” Trump stated. “I believe someone should investigate that.”
This situation follows Harris experiencing backlash on social media after appearing to adopt a Southern accent during a speech in Atlanta, as Vance noted.
“You all played a crucial role in our 2020 victory, and we’re going to do it again in 2024,” Harris, who hails from California, told attendees at the Atlanta rally while seemingly showcasing her new accent.
Former President Donald Trump alongside his running mate J. D. Vance (Fox News)
The accent sparked immediate backlash from online critics, who accused the likely Democratic nominee of pandering to her audience.
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Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Michael Lee.
