Congressional Republicans are cautious about using diversity, equity, and inclusion politics to criticize Vice President Harris, with some advising former President Trump to concentrate on 'the issues.'
Senator John Thune emphasized that Trump's path to victory lies in discussing the issues rather than getting entangled in racial politics. Thune's remarks followed Trump's mention of Harris' race during an event with the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.
'The campaign needs to be about the issues, and there’s plenty to talk about. I just think that’s where the focus needs to be. That’s how we’re going to win in November,' Thune stated when questioned about Trump's comments.
During his speech at the NABJ event, Trump appeared to make light of Harris' heritage, expressing uncertainty about her background. He mentioned, 'I’ve known her a long time indirectly. Not directly very much. 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.'
House Speaker Mike Johnson has advised Republican lawmakers against delving into the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) realm when criticizing Harris. Johnson emphasized that the election should revolve around policies rather than personalities, stating, 'Her ethnicity, her gender, has nothing to do with this whatsoever.'
Senator Raphael Warnock swiftly responded to Trump's comments, characterizing them as unsurprising and reflective of Trump's politics of insult and resentment. Warnock highlighted Harris' diverse background, mentioning, 'Here’s a woman who is the daughter of a Jamaican man and an East-Asian immigrant mother. She went to Howard University. She’s married to a Jewish man. She embodies in her life story the American covenant, E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one. Donald Trump doesn’t understand that.'
Warnock expressed confidence that the American people would reject such rhetoric and appreciate what Kamala Harris symbolizes.
