Trump Ally Defends Harris's Heritage Against GOP Attacks

In a recent interview on ABC's This Week, Republican Florida Representative Byron Donalds dismissed concerns over Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity as a "phoney controversy," stating, "I don’t really care." His comments echoed sentiments expressed by former President Donald Trump earlier this week at the NABJ conference, where he highlighted the shifting narrative surrounding Harris's heritage as she campaigns nationally. Stephanopoulos challenged Donalds, questioning why Republicans continue to scrutinize Harris's racial identity when she has consistently identified as a Black woman with Jamaican and Indian heritage. Donalds maintained that the focus should not be on identity but rather on policy issues, despite the ongoing discussions surrounding Harris's background. In a related development, Axios reported that Republican leaders, including Johnson, are encouraging party members to concentrate their critiques on Harris's policies rather than her heritage. This strategic shift comes amid Trump's announcement of a potential debate with Harris on Fox News, while she insists on participating in the original ABC network for the second presidential debate. Trump also took to Truth Social to express his grievances regarding the debate's scheduling, claiming a conflict of interest due to his ongoing litigation against ABC Network and host George Stephanopoulos. The political landscape continues to evolve as both parties navigate the complexities of identity and policy in the lead-up to the presidential election.