A conservative political analyst said Donald Trump made a big mistake by questioning Kamala Harris’s race on Wednesday.
Scott Jennings appeared on CNN NewsNight when anchor Abby Phillip pressed him on the strategy behind Trump claiming the vice president “just went black” a few years ago.
“He shit the bed today,” said the political strategist and pundit, before offering an applicable metaphor. “The only question is whether he’ll roll around in it or get up and change the sheets.”
Trump began talking trash earlier in the day when he asked whether his rival was Indian or black, in what amounted to an out-of-control interview at the National Association of Black Journalists.
The comments prompted responses from the White House, countless media figures and Harris herself, making them a prominent topic of conversation on Wednesday’s show. CNN News Night.
Scroll down to watch the video:
Conservative political analyst Scott Jennings, political director for President George W. Bush’s 2000 Kentucky election campaign, said Wednesday that Donald Trump shot himself in the foot by questioning Kamala Harris’ race.
On the CNN show, Phillip began by asking Jennings if he believes Trump’s comments were part of a premeditated strategy.
“I don’t know if I agree with that,” Jennings replied.
“Look, first of all, I think he deserves some points for showing up to this event and giving it a shot,” he said.
“Where is Kamala Harris today? She’s not there,” he continued, citing the fact that she did not show up to the anticipated event remotely, as many believed she would.
“But, that being said, he shit the bed today. The only question is whether he’ll roll around in it or get up and change the sheets.”
Phillips, visibly intrigued, proceeded to ask for more information.
“My advice would be to get up, change your sheets and do what your campaign is doing,” Jennings responded.
‘The campaign knows how to prosecute the case, okay?
“They’re up in the air with that, and that’s millions of dollars on their political record,” he continued. “That’s what they should be doing.”
Earlier in the day, Trump raised eyebrows when he questioned whether his rival was Indian or black in a rare interview at the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.
The comments prompted responses from the White House, countless media figures and Harris herself, making it a prominent topic of conversation.
The vice president seemed to agree Wednesday when she said “the American people deserve better,” in a speech at the 60th Biennial International Boulé of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. in Houston.
There, he urged the African-American brotherhood to “fight” because “there is a lot at stake.”
“This afternoon Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists,” Harris said during her speech.
And it was the same old spectacle: division and disrespect.
Let me say that the American people deserve better.
“A leader who speaks the truth,” he added, “who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us.”
“They are an essential source of our strength,” he added.
During her speech, Harris also spoke of the so-called “promise of America” and She touched on the current cost of living crisis and concepts such as equal pay for women, before briefly touching on the central issue: Trump’s comments.
The vice president seemed to agree Wednesday, saying “the American people deserve better” in a speech at the 60th Biennial International Boulé of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. in Houston.
They were offered hours earlier, when ABC’s Rachel Scott, sitting across from the Republican, mentioned how many people didn’t think it was appropriate for him to be in Chicago given his past comments about people of color.
Visibly outraged, Trump began: “First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible way,” before calling the journalist “nasty” and “hostile” in an ode to his 2016 campaign.
“You don’t even say hello to me, how are you?” she continued, criticizing ABC as a “fake news network.”
“I came here in good spirits. I love the black people in this country,” he added.
“I think it’s a very rude presentation. I don’t know exactly why you would do something like that.
That’s when he offered his controversial comments, after being asked if he thought it was appropriate to refer to Harris as a “DEI hire,” as several Republicans have already done.
He seemed to falsely claim that Harris did not embrace her black identity until it was beneficial for her to do so.
“She was always of Indian descent and she was just promoting Indian heritage,” Trump said.
Hours earlier, during their now widely viewed interview, Trump appeared to claim that Harris did not lean into her Black identity until it became appropriate — and beneficial — to do so.
In response, Jennings told host Abby Phillips: “This is not going to end the way he wants it to. There’s a better way to do this and they know what to do, but he’s the one who should do it. He’s the one who should do it.”
‘I didn’t know she was black until a few years ago when she accidentally turned black.
“And now she wants to be known as black. So I don’t know. Is she Indian or is she black?
“Someone should look into that,” he concluded, amid laughter and mockery, the latter more than the former.
“I respect both of them, but she obviously doesn’t.”
Scott noted that Harris had always identified as Black, before asking if he agreed with his contemporaries that Harris was a “DEI hire.”
Seemingly feigning confusion, the Tory replied: “I don’t really know, it could be,” before being greeted with a chorus of boos.
To this, Jennings said: “This is not going to end the way he wants it to.”
“There is a better way to do it and they know what to do, but it is their responsibility to do it. It is their responsibility to do it.”
“My strongest advice is to act,” concluded the CNN staffer, who is frequently cited as a political analyst.