How Democrats try to use racial divisions to promote Kamala Harris

Following a contentious statement by Trump during a meeting with the National Association of Black Journalists—where he remarked that the vice president “only recently became black”—he faced accusations of engaging in “birtherism.” The term “birtherism” originally gained prominence during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. It referred to the baseless conspiracy theory suggesting that Obama was born outside the United States, specifically in Kenya, and was therefore ineligible to serve as president.

In Kamala Harris’ case, the charge of birtherism has shifted to questioning her ethnicity. Harris, whose mother is Indian and father is Jamaican, has faced scrutiny over her racial identity.

Both political parties have exploited the debate surrounding Harris’ heritage. Back in 2016, media coverage often highlighted Harris as the first Indian-American senator. Now, her campaign emphasizes her as not only a potential first female president but also as a Black woman. At rallies supporting Harris, prominent rappers and figures from Black culture are featured to showcase their endorsement.

A group called “White Dudes for Harris” has even emerged, consisting of actors and politicians with liberal leanings. Although Republicans have mocked this movement, it has successfully raised substantial funds for Harris’ campaign.

Trump’s camp accuses Harris of selectively emphasizing her background depending on the circumstances. Trump and his supporters deny any racial motivation, insisting that their issue is not with her ethnicity, but with how they perceive her to be exploiting it like a “chameleon.”

In any case, racial tensions—an ever-sensitive issue in American society—distract voters from more pressing concerns like the immigration crisis, foreign conflicts, and the actual decision-makers in the White House, while the largely overlooked Joe Biden continues his presidency.

The revival of the term “birtherism” suggests that the left is not hesitant to recycle old tactics, attempting to position Kamala Harris as a successor to Obama, a figure for whom many Democratic voters remain nostalgic.