Trump targets Harris again, this time with 'racist' nickname 'Kambala'
What's the story
Former United States President Donald Trump is facing backlash for continuing to mock Kamala Harris. In his latest attack, he referred to her as "Kambala," which is a festival held in the Indian state of Karnataka. Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday right before Harris announced her running mate, Trump wrote, "Food is now at an all time high because of Kamabla/Biden INCOMPETENCE." He also went on to refer to Harris as "Kambala" in other posts.
Public outrage
Social media backlash over Trump's 'Kambala' nickname
The nickname has incited backlash on social media, with users labeling it as racist. One user criticized Trump's juvenile approach to politics, while another suggested that his strategy might only appeal to a racist demographic. The use of this moniker is seen by some as an attack on Harris's Indian heritage. Trump had sparked controversy last month when he disclosed that he doesn't care if he mispronounced the name of his political rival.
Accusations of bias
Trump and allies accused of using race-gender tropes
In addition to the nicknames, Trump and his allies have been accused of using race-gender-patriotism-childless tropes against Harris. They have deliberately mispronounced her name and labeled her a "nasty woman," echoing past attacks against strong female figures like Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, they have scrutinized her dating history and questioned her qualifications, despite Harris's extensive public office experience.
Data decoded
Polls show Harris moving ahead of Trump
Meanwhile, many recent polls have shown the vice president pulling ahead of Trump in the fight for the White House. Harris led Trump by three points, 48%-45%, according to SurveyUSA; Morning Consult put Harris up four points, 48%-44%; YouGov and CBS News made it a one-point Harris lead, 50%-49%; and University of Massachusetts Amherst put Harris up three, 46%-43%.
V-P candidate
Harris introduces Walz as her running mate
Harris is vying for the Oval Office, with Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate. Harris introduced Walz to a raucous rally on Tuesday in Pennsylvania. "He's the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big. ... That's the kind of vice president America deserves," Harris said while alongside Walz.