I can say no I think it's maybe a little bit different so uh I've known her a long time indirectly not directly very much and 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 former US president Donald Trump tried to backtrack on his previous comments about vice president Kamala Harris's racial identity during Tuesday's debate on ABC News when asked why he felt it was appropriate to question Harris's identity Trump responded that he didn't care how Harris identifies in the debate Trump said and I quote I don't and I don't care regarding Harris's racial background this was in reference to a previous interview where he implied Harris had become black later in life Trump claimed and I quote I couldn't care less whatever she wants to be is okay with me he then falsely accused Harris of saying she wasn't black stating I read that she wasn't black then I read that she was however there is no evidence that Harris has ever denied being black she has consistently acknowledged both her Jamaican and Indian Heritage throughout her career in response to Trump's comments Harris said and I quote it's a tragedy we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently tried to use a race to divide the American people Trump's remarks Echo statements he made in July during a forum with the National Association of black journalists in that Forum Trump claimed Harris turned black later in life after previously identifying as Indian I can say no I think it's maybe a little bit different so uh I've known her a long time in indirectly not directly very much and 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 his comments were viewed by many as an attempt to question her qualifications and align her role as part of diversity equity and inclusion that is the Dei initiatives a statement widely seen as racist [Music]