Republican lawmakers are urging former President Donald Trump to focus on Vice President Kamala Harris’ policy record rather than her race, following his recent controversial remarks about the presumptive nominee.
During a Wednesday panel interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference, Trump commented that Harris had previously only promoted her Indian heritage and claimed he “didn’t know she was black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn black.” This statement has prompted several Republican lawmakers to advocate for a shift in focus to Harris’ policy record instead of her identity, according to multiple reports.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri emphasized that engaging in racial identity politics is not beneficial for either party. “It’s not a great idea for either of the parties to be playing racial identity politics, whether it’s ‘white dudes for Kamala’ or whatever this is,” he said, according to Politico. “We should spend less time talking about race and more time talking about how we’re going to get people to work.”
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota also stressed the importance of addressing Harris’ policy record. “Any time we’re commenting on anything but this Biden administration’s failed economy, failed border, failed national security, we’re not gaining ground,” Tillis told Punchbowl News. Rounds echoed this sentiment, stating, “Focus on policy… That’s what the American people want and where we win.”
Shortly after the event NABJ Co-Chair Karen Attiah stepped down from her position.
Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who is also Trump’s running mate, described the former president’s remarks as “hysterical” and criticized what he called the “fundamental chameleon-like nature of Kamala Harris.” He pointed out her recent speech in Georgia, where she adopted a southern accent, despite growing up in Vancouver. “She is not who she pretends to be,” he said, according to NOTUS.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska expressed frustration with the recent messaging. “What have we been talking about all week long? Childless cat women. DEI candidates. Now ‘Is she Black? Is she Indian?’” she said, according to Punchbowl News. “Maybe they don’t know how to handle the campaign, so they default to issues that simply should not be an issue.”
Rep. Nick Lakota of New York defended Trump’s political style and highlighted his policy accomplishments. “Trump’s political adversaries question his style because they lose on policy and fact,” Lakota told Axios. “Trump did more for Black Americans than any President in at least the last 50 years. VP Harris’ honeymoon will soon end.”