Former US President Donald Trump is facing backlash from Republicans after he questioned his fellow presidential candidate Kamala Harris' racial identity on Wednesday at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago, evoking concern, shock, and outrage from his political party.

The Republican presidential nominee commented on Harris' Indian and Black biracial identity, stating, “I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went – she became a Black person."

Some significant political figures openly criticized Trump, while others decided to condemn his actions and comments anonymously. 

Republicans speak out against Trump

Former Maryland Governor and Republican Larry Hogan wrote on X that it is "unacceptable and abhorrent to attack Vice President Harris or anyone's racial identity," without directly mentioning Trump by name.

It's unacceptable and abhorrent to attack Vice President Harris or anyone’s racial identity. The American people deserve better.

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 31, 2024

"Childless cat women, DEI candidates, now, 'Is she black? Is she Indian?'" Sen. Lisa Murkowski said, referring to the recent comments made by the former president and the remarks of his nominated vice president J.D. Vance about the Democratic Party in 2021.

"To be focusing on anyone's race or gender when there are plenty of things to talk about on the issues that voters actually care about is frustrating for a lot of us," a House Republican stated. 

"It was awful," a second House Republican described the interview, raising concerns to Axios about Trump's ability to manage his impulses while facing the first woman, Black and Asian American vice president.

The overall interview

The interview at the convention was conducted by Rachel Scott, who opened the topic of Harris' racial identity upon asking the former president if he agreed with his fellow party members regarding the characterization of the vice president as a "DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) hire." This question ultimately sparked Trump's comments on Harris' Black and Indian identity.

It is "not a great idea for either of the parties to be playing racial identity politics," Republican Senator Josh Hawley said, criticizing his fellow party members.

Scott defended the Democratic candidate's Black identity by informing Trump she attended Brown University, a historically Black educational institution. 

Like Trump's comments about his former opponent, President Joe Biden, the Republican said he would challenge Harris to a cognitive test, proclaiming she "failed her law exam, so maybe she wouldn't pass a cognitive test." Harris passed the bar and was the attorney general of California.

"The entire exchange was embarrassing," said the second House Republican.

Haley slams Trump's remarks on Black voters as 'disgusting'

This is not the first time Trump has made racial comments during his presidential campaign. 

Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley strongly criticized Trump back in February for making what she deemed as "disgusting" remarks about Black Americans.

Trump has insinuated that Black voters favor him due to their ability to relate to his legal challenges.

"It's disgusting. But that's what happens when he goes off the teleprompter. That's the chaos that comes with Donald Trump," Haley stated at a polling station in her home state.

"That's the offensiveness that's going to happen every day between now and the general election, which is why I continue to say Donald Trump cannot win a general election," she stressed at the time.