Trump was "dog-whistling his base" when questioning Harris’s racial identity: analyst

Summary

In a recent interview, Donald Trump questioned Kamala Harris's racial identity, sparking controversy. Harris, with Jamaican and Indian heritage, responded at a Texas rally, denouncing Trump's divisive tactics. Avis Jones-DeWeaver, a commentator, suggests Trump's disrespectful remarks are aimed at appealing to his base and potentially irritating a segment of the black community. Despite Republican backlash, Trump is unlikely to change his approach, which Jones-DeWeaver believes lacks strategy and will not broaden his appeal.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Donald Trump made remarks questioning Kamala Harris's racial identity during an interview at a convention for black journalists.
• 💬 Kamala Harris responded to Trump's comments at a rally in Texas, criticizing his divisiveness and disrespect.
• 👨‍👧 Harris's father is from Jamaica, and her mother is from India, which has been a point of discussion regarding her racial identity.
• 🤔 Trump also showed disrespect towards the journalist conducting the interview when questioned about black voter trust.
• 😠 Avis Jones De Weaver, a political and social commentator, expressed that Trump's comments were not surprising and part of a pattern of behavior.
• 🎯 Trump's comments were seen as an attempt to appeal to certain audiences, including his base and potentially a segment of the black community.
• 🔍 There were coordinated attacks on Harris's racial identity and record as a prosecutor when she was a senator, which may have been aimed at certain segments of the black male community.
• 🚫 Republicans have criticized Trump's remarks, but Avis Jones De Weaver believes that Trump cannot be reined in and will continue with his divisive tactics.
• 🤔 The effectiveness of Trump's strategy to broaden his reach beyond his devoted base is questioned, as he seems to lack a clear plan to do so.
• 🔄 Trump has tried various attacks against Harris, but none have been particularly successful, and enthusiasm around her seems to be growing.
• 📉 Trump's attempts to make news and draw attention to himself may be out of desperation, as he has been largely ignored in the media since Harris's candidacy was announced.

Q & A

What remarks did Donald Trump make about Kamala Harris's racial identity?

Donald Trump questioned Kamala Harris's racial identity during an interview, suggesting that she might not be black or Indian, referencing her Jamaican father and Indian mother.

How did Kamala Harris respond to Donald Trump's remarks?

Kamala Harris brushed off Trump's remarks at a rally in Texas, stating that it was the same old divisiveness and disrespect, and that the American people deserve better.

What was the context of the interview where Trump made these remarks?

The remarks were made during a combative interview at a convention for black journalists, where Trump also disparaged the journalist conducting the interview.

What was the nature of the question that prompted Trump's comments about Harris's racial identity?

The journalist asked Trump why a black voter should trust him, to which he responded by questioning Kamala Harris's racial identity instead of addressing the trust issue.

How does Avis Jones De Weaver characterize Trump's behavior towards women and black women in particular?

Avis Jones De Weaver suggests that Trump commonly disrespects and demeans anyone who asks him difficult questions, but he seems to have a special venom reserved for women, especially black women.

What does Weaver believe Trump was trying to achieve with his comments about Harris's racial identity?

Weaver believes that Trump was signaling to his racist base by questioning Harris's blackness and also trying to irritate a certain small segment of the black population that may be predisposed to questioning her racial identity.

What was the Trump campaign's strategy regarding Kamala Harris's racial identity and record as a prosecutor in the past?

In the past, the Trump campaign targeted black men with coordinated attacks around Harris's racial identity and misinformation about her record as a prosecutor, aiming to hurt her among a certain segment of the black male community.

How does Weaver view the effectiveness of Trump's current strategy in appealing to the black community?

Weaver believes that Trump's strategy is offensive to people and that it is unlikely to work this time because it does not seem to have a strategy to broaden his reach to people who are not already sold on Donald Trump.

What does Weaver suggest about the enthusiasm around Kamala Harris since her candidacy was announced?

Weaver suggests that the enthusiasm around Kamala Harris is growing and that Trump's attacks have not been successful in dampening this enthusiasm.

Why does Weaver think Trump's attacks on Harris are not strategic and will not work?

Weaver believes Trump's attacks are not strategic because they do not seem to have a plan for broadening his appeal beyond his devoted base, and because they are desperate attempts to make news and get people talking about him.

What does Weaver imply about the devotion of Trump's base to him?

Weaver implies that Trump has a very devoted base that she argues worships him at a deity level, but this devotion alone is not enough for him to win.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Trump's Disrespectful Remarks on Harris's Identity

In this paragraph, the script discusses remarks made by Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris's racial identity during a combative interview at a convention for black journalists. Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and mother from India, responded to Trump's comments at a rally in Texas, emphasizing the divisiveness and disrespect Trump's comments represent. The script also touches on Trump's reaction to a journalist's question about trust from the black community, highlighting his disparagement of the interviewer. Political and social commentator Avis Jones DeWeaver is introduced to provide her perspective on Trump's comments, suggesting that his behavior is consistent with his pattern of disrespecting women, especially black women, and that his comments are an appeal to his base with racist leanings.

05:00

🤔 DeWeaver's Analysis on Trump's Strategy and Impact

The second paragraph continues with Avis Jones DeWeaver's analysis of Trump's strategy and its potential impact. She suggests that Trump's comments are not surprising and reflects on his history of disrespecting those who challenge him. DeWeaver discusses the possibility that Trump's comments are aimed at appealing to his base and potentially irritating a segment of the black population. She also addresses the question of whether Trump's approach benefits him within the black community and concludes that it is unlikely to be effective. DeWeaver points out that while Trump has a devoted base, it is not sufficient for him to win and that he lacks a strategy to broaden his appeal. She also notes that Trump's various attacks on Harris have not been successful and that his current approach is not strategic.

Keywords

💡Racial Identity

Racial identity refers to the way individuals identify themselves within a racial group, which can be influenced by factors such as ancestry, culture, and societal perceptions. In the video, the theme of racial identity is central as Donald Trump questions Kamala Harris's racial background, suggesting it's unclear whether she is black or Indian. This is a divisive tactic that plays on racial tensions and is used to sow discord among the public.

💡Divisiveness

Divisiveness is the act of causing disagreement or separation within a group. In the script, it is mentioned that Trump's remarks exhibit the same old divisiveness, indicating that his comments are intended to create or exacerbate divisions among people, particularly along racial lines, which is a recurring theme in his rhetoric.

💡Disrespect

Disrespect is a lack of regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others. The transcript describes Trump's comments as disrespectful, suggesting that his questioning of Kamala Harris's racial identity is not only inappropriate but also shows a disregard for her personal and cultural background.

💡Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is a U.S. politician who has served as the Vice President of the United States. In the video, she is the subject of Trump's comments about her racial identity, which is a key point of discussion. Her response to these comments is also highlighted, showing her stance against such divisive tactics.

💡Jamaica

Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean, and it is mentioned in the script as the birthplace of Kamala Harris's father. This detail is relevant to the discussion of her racial identity, as it contributes to her mixed heritage and the complexity of her background.

💡India

India is a country in South Asia, and it is mentioned as the origin of Kamala Harris's mother. This reference is part of the broader conversation about her racial and ethnic identity, emphasizing the multicultural aspects of her heritage.

💡Black Journalists

The term 'black journalists' refers to journalists who identify as black or are part of the black community. In the script, Trump is said to have made his controversial remarks during an interview at a convention for black journalists, indicating a setting where such comments are particularly inappropriate and provocative.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread, often unintentionally. The script mentions coordinated attacks spreading misinformation about Kamala Harris's record as a prosecutor, which is part of a strategy to discredit her among certain segments of the population.

💡Dog Whistling

Dog whistling is a political tactic where a speaker addresses a particular group with a coded message that appears innocent to others but has a specific meaning for the targeted group. In the video, Trump's comments about Harris's racial identity are described as dog whistling to his base, signaling his alignment with racist sentiments.

💡Base

In politics, the 'base' refers to a candidate's core group of supporters. The script discusses Trump's appeal to his base, suggesting that his comments are designed to reinforce loyalty among those who already support him, even if it means using divisive tactics.

💡Earned Media

Earned media refers to the publicity generated by word-of-mouth, social sharing, and media coverage as a result of newsworthy events or actions. The script mentions that Trump has been 'blacked out' in terms of earned media since Harris's candidacy was announced, indicating a lack of positive coverage or public interest in his actions.

Highlights

CA Harris dismisses Trump's remarks questioning her racial identity at a rally in Texas.

Trump targets Kamala Harris in an interview, questioning if she is black or Indian.

Harris's father is from Jamaica and her mother is from India.

Trump also disrespects the journalist conducting the interview.

Avis Jones De Weaver, a political and social commentator, joins the discussion.

De Weaver says Trump's comments are not surprising and reflect his usual behavior.

Trump is accused of having a special venom for women and black women in particular.

De Weaver suggests Trump is trying to appeal to his racist base with his comments about Harris.

There were coordinated attacks on Harris's racial identity and prosecutorial record when she was a senator.

De Weaver believes Trump's comments are offensive to people and will not benefit him in the black community.

Trump is described as being unable to help himself and unable to be reined in regarding his divisive remarks.

De Weaver questions if Trump has a strategy to broaden his reach beyond his devoted base.

Trump has tried various attacks against Harris without success, as enthusiasm around her grows.

De Weaver thinks Trump is desperate for media attention and is not being strategic in his attacks.

The commentator concludes that Trump's tactics are unlikely to work in the current political climate.

Avis Jones De Weaver is thanked for her insight into the situation.

Transcripts

in the US CA Harris is brushing off

remarks by Donald Trump questioning her

racial identity she did so at a rally in

Texas and it was the same old

show the

divisiveness and the

disrespect and let me just

say the American people deserve

better Donald Trump took direct aim at

kamla Harris during a combative

interview at a convention for black

journalists questioning whether she is

black or Indian now Harris's father

immigrated from Jamaica her mom is from

India Trump also disparaged the

journalist conducting the interview when

she asked why a black voter should trust

him he jumped in saying he'd never been

asked such a question in such a horrible

manner joining me now is Avis Jones De

Weaver political and social commentator

and I can already see starting to smile

about what Trump had to say uh does

anything surprise you anymore about what

he says absolutely nothing surpris good

by thank you good morning to you too I

got that um I will say he uh he just

like vice president Harris said this is

the same old show uh not only is he uh

does he commonly disrespect demean uh

anyone who asks him difficult questions

that he is incapable of answering he

seems to have a special Venom reserved

for women and also an especially low

level in which he goes when he's in a

room in in a situation with black women

and so it's very interesting to see how

he handled that yesterday and it's very

telling that though he had a lot to say

on that stage as uh vice president

Harris would say he still doesn't have

the nerve to say it to her face who is

he trying to appeal to with comments

like that is it is that benefiting him

at all in the black

community you know that's an excellent

question I I think there are two

audiences uh by leaning into that line

of unreasonable nature right on the one

hand uh the the Trump campaign had for

many years actually specifically

targeted uh black men specifically and

when um vice president Harris well when

she was Senator Harris was running

previously um there was a series of

coordinated attacks around her racial

identity there was a series of

coordinated attacks that was spreading

misinformation with regards to her

record as a prosecutor and the belief

then I believe was that uh that those

are things that would specifically hurt

her among a certain segment of the black

male Community uh right now though I

believe that this moment it has shifted

a bit and it's really just offensive to

people I also believe he was dog

whistling his base uh because anything

that hearkens to race uh anything that

questions the validity of someone that

is not white remember he did the same

thing uh with President Obama when he

was on his little birtherism tirade uh

appeals to people that already have

racist leanings so in my Minds it was it

was a twofer right he was able to Signal

his uh right racist Base by basically

saying she's not like us and and also at

the same time he was able to perhaps

irritate a certain small segment of the

black population that may be predisposed

to questioning her Blackness now

Republicans have come out against this

can he be reigned in or or will is

anybody capable of reigning him in no he

cannot be rained in he cannot help

himself I mean this is who he is right

when someone shows you who they are

believe them the first time right and so

we've been seeing this same old show for

years uh the question is is it going to

work this time and I don't believe that

it will work this time because yes he

has a very very devoted base he has a

base that I would argue literally

worships him at a deity level but that's

not enough for him to win he has to

figure out how does he broaden his reach

to people who are not already sold on

Donald Trump right and he doesn't seem

to have a strategy around exactly how to

do that another thing I would say is

that he's been trying several different

attacks against vice president Harris

even before then this is like whack an

attack I mean he's trying a different

one almost every day nothing seems to be

working the enthusiasm around her seems

to be growing and in fact this is the

only time that he's been able to pierce

the Airways since her candidacy has been

announced he's l l literally been

blacked out in terms of earned media

since she's been in the race and so I

think he was desperate I think he wanted

to get people talking about him again I

think he wanted to be able to once again

make news because everything in his mind

is about him but at the end of the day

it's not strategic and it's not going to

work okay Avis thank you as always for

your Insight thank you Avis Jones to

Weaver is a political and social

commentator