Trump encounters online ridicule following his barb against Kamala Harris, labeled as inappropriate and distasteful
In a recent press conference, President Donald Trump made a statement that has sparked controversy, criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris' speaking and interviewing skills. This is not the first time Trump has questioned the intelligence of prominent women and people of color in politics.
Deepak Sarma, a professor in public humanities, has spoken out against Trump's remarks, calling them a "quintessential strategy" and "appalling." Sarma, who is a queer person of color, believes that Trump has a tendency to embrace white supremacist nationalist perspectives that deny the intelligence of women and people of color, especially women of color.
Trump's remarks towards Vice President Harris follow a similar pattern. In July 2025, he publicly called Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez "very low IQ," and challenged both her and Jasmine Crockett to IQ tests, contrasting this with his own claimed perfect cognitive test results at Walter Reed Medical Center. In August 2025, Trump called Jasmine Crockett a "very low IQ person" during a CNBC interview, after she criticized him at a liberal rally. Trump has also ridiculed Crockett politically and personally, including wondering about her relation to Davy Crockett in a facetious manner.
Sarma warns that if people do not call out Trump's behavior, the gaslighting may take hold. He believes it is "essential" for people living in the U.S. to continue to call out Trump's behavior, especially those with "public positions and profiles to speak up." Sarma is saddened that privileged people who claim to stand for democracy and human rights are quiet and in hiding.
Kamala Harris, for her part, has announced that she will not be running for governor of California in 2026. In a late-night show interview with Stephen Colbert, she expressed her disillusionment with the political system, stating that she is not ready to "go back in the system," which she believes is broken. Harris has also been vocal about Trump's attacks, responding to his criticism by stating that she can speak and talk just fine.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these events will unfold. However, one thing is clear: the need for open dialogue and accountability in public discourse is more important than ever.
- Deepak Sarma, in response to Trump's comments, has labeled them a "quintessential strategy," believing that they reflect a "denial of intelligence" towards women and people of color, a tendency he associates with white supremacist nationalist perspectives.
- Lately, social media platforms have been buzzing with discussions about the controversial statements made by President Trump, criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris' speaking and interviewing skills, similar to his past comments about women and people of color in politics.
- In the realm of pop-culture and general news, the ongoing debate between Trump and high-profile politicians like Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues to captivate the public, with celebrities and everyday citizens expressing their views on the matter, often through social media.
- As the US grapples with pressing issues of policy-and-legislation and politics, it's crucial for those with public profiles and positions to speak out against such controversial remarks and behavior, as silence may risk reinforcing the gaslighting, according to professor Deepak Sarma.
