During a town hall on Tuesday with popular radio host Charlamagne tha God, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed criticism that Democrats may take Black voters for granted. Harris defended her record as a prosecutor, highlighted her policies aimed at supporting Black communities, and called former President Donald Trump a threat to democracy.
When Charlamagne suggested Trump’s vision for the country should be labeled fascism, asking, “Why can’t we just say it?” Harris agreed, replying, “Yeah, we can say that.”
Her comments came at a pivotal time in the campaign, with polls indicating she faces challenges securing strong support from Black men—support crucial for winning the presidency. Meanwhile, Trump seems to be making gains among Black voters, raising concerns for Democrats in what could be a historically close election.
Former President Barack Obama underscored this concern in remarks last week in Pittsburgh, noting that the lack of enthusiasm for Harris “seems to be more pronounced with the brothers,” suggesting it may stem from some reluctance to support a female candidate.
A caller then asked Harris why Dems waved “the finger at Black men” while Trump gained traction among other demographic groups.
“I think what is happening is that we are all working on reminding people what is at stake, and that is very important,” she replied.
Harris responded to criticism that she comes across as too scripted by framing it as being disciplined. She also sought to reclaim the narrative around her record, asserting that her work for the Black community has been misrepresented by her political opponents.
“One of the biggest challenges that I face is mis- and disinformation,” Harris said. “It is meant to convince people that they somehow should not believe that the work that I have done has occurred, and has meaning.”
She continued: “Part of the challenge that I face is that they are trying to scare people away, because they know they otherwise have nothing to run on Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for Black America. Ask him.”
Harris promoted her plans to support Black Americans through initiatives like forgivable loans for entrepreneurs, tax breaks for small business start-ups, down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, Medicare benefits for home care, and tax credits for low- and middle-income families.
When asked about her record as a prosecutor and criticism from opponents claiming she targeted thousands of Black men for prosecution during her time as San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris refuted the allegations as “simply not true.” She emphasized that she was “the most progressive prosecutor in California on marijuana cases,” stating that she did not incarcerate people for simple marijuana possession. Harris also pledged to work toward decriminalizing marijuana if elected president.
Harris also took on criticism from Trump for a lack of engagement with the Black church. She responded by speaking about growing up in the Black church and attending the 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland, Calif.
“I know where our church, and my church is about saying true leadership, the measure of that is based on who you lift up,” Harris said. “And then he’s selling $60 Bibles or tennis shoes and trying to play people, as though that makes him more understanding of the Black community. Come on.”
