Brian Kilmeade Defends Trump’s Race Comments Amidst Backlash

During a broadcast, Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade came to the defense of former President Donald Trump after he made questionable remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity. Trump had stated during a question-and-answer session at the National Association of Black Journalists conference that he was unaware of Harris being Black and implied that her identity was ambiguous, noting her Indian heritage. This prompted Kilmeade to assert that bringing up race in this context was not beneficial for Trump, suggesting that in his view, the former president simply sees himself as running against a Democrat, rather than focusing on nuances of race and gender.

Kilmeade further remarked that Trump’s perception is limited, implying that many people expect him to engage more respectfully with women and minorities. He also offered commentary on Trump’s experience during the NABJ conference, where the former president described the questions directed at him as “nasty” and poorly administered. Kilmeade suggested that Trump should have been better prepared for the potentially unfriendly atmosphere he would face.

In stark contrast to Kilmeade's defense, other commentators were quick to criticize Trump’s performance. Jessica Tarlov from Fox News labeled the interview a “complete dumpster fire,” while former White House strategist Alyssa Farah Griffin echoed that sentiment. Republican strategist Sarah Longwell characterized Trump as appearing old and ineffective during the discussion, and political commentator Jon Favreau expressed disbelief at the interview quality, deeming it one of Trump's worst.

Responding to Trump’s comments, Harris, who has been subjected to numerous racially charged attacks during her presidential campaign, dismissed his remarks as part of a “divisiveness and disrespect” narrative, highlighting the challenges she continues to face as a candidate.