Donald Trump has questioned the racial identity of vice president Kamala Harris, asking “is she Indian or is she black?” – while in an interview with a black journalist.
The Republican nominee’s remarks drew gasps from the audience at a convention hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.
He said: “I’ve known her a long time, indirectly not directly… and 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?” he asked.
Ms Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the US.
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An aide for Ms Harris, who is the likely Democratic nominee for the 5 November US presidential election, described the appearance as an “absolute disaster” for Mr Trump.
Another source close to her election campaign branded the comments “completely unhinged”, “insulting and repulsive.”
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre instantly condemned the comments as “impulsive and insulting”.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a former leader, a former president, it is insulting and we have to put that she is the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris.
“We have to put some respect on her name,” she added.
Ms Harris, who describes herself as African American and South Asian Indian American, hopes to become America’s first female president.
Mr Trump was repeatedly asked about his choice of running mate during the combative question and answer session with Rachel Scott of ABC News.
JD Vance has been in the spotlight for referring to women without children as “childless cat ladies” and appearing to suggest they should have less say in the democratic process.
The former president, who is facing several criminal cases against him including over his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, said: “Historically, the vice president in terms of the election does not have impact. I mean, virtually no impact.
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“You’re voting for the president, and you can have a vice president who’s outstanding in every way, and I think JD is… but you’re not voting that way.
“You’re voting for me. If you like me, I’m going to win. If you don’t, I’m not going to,” he added.
Mr Trump was also asked about his pledge to pardon people convicted for their roles in the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol and specifically whether he would pardon those who assaulted police officers.
Mr Trump said “oh, absolutely I would,” and added: “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”
Interviewer Scott pointed out they have been convicted and therefore are not innocent.
“Well, they were convicted by a very, very tough system,” he said.
At the same conference in Chicago, Mr Trump said he was “against everybody having an electric car”, despite being endorsed by billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla.