The atmosphere at the convention for black journalists in the USA in Chicago quickly became tense. Donald Trump attacked the moderator and ABC journalist Rachel Scott, whose first question concerned why black voters should support the Republican in light of his having questioned the origin of black politicians and called black district attorneys "rabid" and "animals".
I've never gotten a question... in such a terrible way, a first question, complained the presidential candidate in front of the TV cameras.
A very impolite introduction. I don't understand why you're doing something like that.
Questioned heritage
Later, Trump claimed that he had been the best president for the black population in the USA since Abraham Lincoln, which was met with discontented murmurs from the audience, according to CNN. Then Scott led the conversation to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is soon expected to be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate.
She has always brought up her Indian heritage. I didn't even know she was black until a couple of years ago when she suddenly became black, and now she wants to be known as black, said Trump, adding that he respects both groups.
So I don't know, is she Indian or black?
For many years in public life, Kamala Harris has been open about her background. Her mother came from India and her father was from Jamaica, something she has written about in her autobiography "The Truths That Unite Us". Currently, Kamala Harris is the first black woman and the first person of Asian descent to be Vice President of the USA.
Echoes of 2008
A few hours after Trump's outburst, Harris responded during an appearance in Houston, Texas.
It was the same old thing, the same division and disrespect. Let me just say: The American people deserve better, said Harris and was met with applause.
Donald Trump's statement brings back memories of the so-called birther movement, a conspiracy theory he was involved in before and after the 2008 election. The birther campaign falsely claimed that Barack Obama was born outside the USA and therefore could not be the country's president. This led to the president eventually showing his birth certificate from the state of Hawaii.
Tina Magnergård Bjers/TT
Alice Nordevik/TT
Facts: This is how voters view Trump and Harris
TTTT
Percentage of voters with a positive and negative view of the political leaders in the USA:
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
Positive: 42.8
Negative: 52.3
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is likely to become the Democratic presidential candidate:
Positive: 43
Negative: 50
Source: Real Clear Politics compilation of current opinion polls
