Former President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris during a media forum in Chicago on Wednesday when a reporter asked her if she was on the Democratic Party's shortlist because she's a Black woman.

Trump made the remarks during an interview hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists with Fox News host Harris Faulkner, Semaphore reporter Kadia Goba, and ABC reporter Rachel Scott. When Scott asked Trump if he thought Harris became the Democratic nominee because she is a black woman, Trump said that because he is of Indian descent, he didn't know she was black until a few years ago. (RELATED: 'Stick to the Basics': Fox News guest says Republicans should try to take on Harris and get a lead in the polls on key issues)

clock:

'I didn't know she was black': Trump criticizes Kamala Harris for running on racial issues pic.twitter.com/XW3ij1BjaV

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 31, 2024

“Well, I would say it might not be,” Trump said. “I've known her indirectly for a long time, but not much directly. She's always been Indian, and she's just promoted that. I didn't know she was black until a few years ago, when she became black, and now she wants to be known as black. So I don't know if she's Indian or black.”

“I respect both people,” said Trump, who was told by one of the panelists that Harris has always identified as black. “I respect both people, but I obviously don't respect her, because she's always been Indian and then all of a sudden she turns around and becomes black.”

Harris' Official Biography The White House website promotes her as the first black vice president, noting that her mother is of Indian descent.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Criticized President Trump's comments at a press conference on Wednesday.

“What you just read to me is offensive and insulting and no one has the right to dictate who another person is or how they perceive themselves,” Jean-Pierre said.

As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.