Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) suggested that former President Trump is reverting to familiar tactics by attacking Vice President Harris over her racial background.
On ABC’s “This Week,” Christie criticized Trump’s recent comments at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference, describing them as impulsive rather than strategic. Christie argued that as the race for the presidency tightens, Trump tends to resort to personal and divisive attacks on his opponents.
Christie explained, “When Donald Trump feels secure in his lead, he tends to follow conventional political advice. But as the competition heats up, he reverts to his old playbook.” He cited examples from Trump’s speeches at the convention and NABJ, noting that Trump’s reliance on “greatest hits” strategies becomes more evident when he senses a challenge.
During the NABJ conference, Trump questioned Harris’s racial identity, suggesting that she previously only emphasized her Indian heritage rather than her Black heritage, despite her being both. “I didn’t know she was Black until a few years ago,” Trump remarked, questioning whether Harris’s current racial identification was genuine.
The White House responded by accusing Trump of resorting to racial attacks and diminishing Harris’s heritage. Harris has also faced criticism from the right, with detractors associating her with diversity and inclusion initiatives. At a rally in Atlanta on Saturday, Trump continued his critique of Harris, labeling her as a “horror show” and claiming she would “destroy our country.”