Fox News host Martha MacCallum seemed to lose her composure during a heated exchange on-air with Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov. The discussion centered around Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s recent inflammatory comments about Kamala Harris at the National Association of Black Journalists conference.
Trump sparked controversy by labeling ABC News host Rachel Scott’s questions as “horrible” and “nasty.” Tarlov expressed her disbelief and frustration over Trump’s performance.
“My reaction is that it was a complete, absolute dumpster fire for the former president,” Tarlov told MacCallum. “I don’t feel the need to give him any credit for showing up there because he came with a terrible attitude.”
Tarlov criticized Trump for his disparaging remarks and claims, particularly his assertion that he had done more for the Black community than Abraham Lincoln. She also called out Trump’s offensive comments about Harris, noting that he argued with Scott about whether Harris was a “DEI hire.”
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“He hit all of his regular hits, lying about his record for Black Americans,” Tarlov said. “The comparison saying he’s done the most for the Black community since Abraham Lincoln is obviously ridiculous. I thought that he was rude and offensive to the questioners.”
Trump’s assertion that Harris was once Indian and has now become Black was described by Tarlov as offensive regardless of one’s background.
“His response that she used to be Indian and is now somehow Black, was offensive no matter the color of your skin,” the Fox News contributor said.
MacCallum attempted to defend Trump’s position, stating, “She has an Indian mother and a Jamaican father.”
“Right, she’s Black!” Tarlov retorted.
MacCallum clarified, “But she has an Indian mother and a Black father. So those are two different backgrounds.”
“She’s Black!” Tarlov shot back.
Jessica: My reaction is it was an complete absolute dumpster fire for the former president, I don't feel the need to give him any credit for showing up there because he came with a terrible attitude pic.twitter.com/5ilh4T80tn
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2024
MacCallum then introduced Vivek Ramaswamy, who launched a fierce attack on Kamala Harris, accusing her of shifting her identity. “Many Indian-Americans in the U.S. are deeply offended by how Kamala Harris has discarded her Indian-American identity when it suited her,” Ramaswamy charged. “She embraced that identity for political gain and now conveniently swaps it out for a different one.”
Vivek on Kamala's Heritage:
"Many Indian-Americans in the US are indeed somewhat offended by the way Kamala has suddenly cast aside the Indian-American side of identity… She wore that when it was convenient. She's wearing a different identity now." pic.twitter.com/Si7Pzk7zRJ
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 31, 2024
Minutes later, Trump doubled down on his controversial remarks by posting on Truth Social, where he asserted that Harris is “Indian, not Black.”
