During a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) criticized former President Trump for his remarks about Vice President Harris’s racial identity.
Crockett expressed her dismay at Trump’s comments and the disrespect he showed toward Black journalists, highlighting that if Trump could speak that way about the most influential Black woman in the world, it raised concerns about what he says privately about others.
At the NABJ event, ABC News’s Rachel Scott confronted Trump about claims from some Republicans that Harris was a “DEI hire,” implying she was chosen for the Democratic ticket primarily because of her race and gender. Trump responded by questioning Harris’s racial identity, suggesting he had only known her as promoting her Indian heritage and implying she had recently “turned Black.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas)
Crockett found Trump’s comments cringeworthy, stating they reflected the same behavior that has characterized him for years. She emphasized that Black Americans who believe Trump understands or supports Black culture are mistaken.
The White House also reacted strongly to Trump’s comments. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the first Black woman to hold the position, described Trump’s remarks as repulsive and insulting, insisting that no one has the right to dictate how someone identifies themselves.
In response to Crockett’s critique, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed her remarks, taking a jab at Harris by calling her too cowardly to attend the event herself.
The NABJ’s decision to invite Trump was met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a chance to hold him accountable, while others were concerned about his history of rhetoric toward Black Americans.
