As US Vice President Kamala Harris’s ethnic identity becomes a focal point in the political arena, Indian-American Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has criticized her for allegedly using her Indian heritage selectively. Amidst Donald Trump’s racial jabs, Ramaswamy has argued that Harris has abandoned her Indian roots, causing offense among some Indian Americans. In a Fox News interview, he stated, “Many Indian-Americans are somewhat offended by how Kamala has seemingly disregarded her Indian-American identity.”
Ramaswamy pointed out that Harris previously emphasized her Indian-American background when she was running for office in California, but he believes she now adopts a different persona for national appeal. “It seems that Kamala Harris shifts her identity according to political convenience,” Ramaswamy observed.
He further criticized Harris for her approach to identity politics, suggesting it opens her up to scrutiny. Ramaswamy argued that the focus should not be on ethnic identities but on broader American values and vision. “We should not base our election on ethnic identities. The key issue with Kamala Harris’s candidacy is the lack of a clear vision for the future of the country,” he added.
Harris’s ethnic identity has become a contentious issue in the presidential campaign, particularly after former President Donald Trump launched personal attacks. Trump has accused Harris of changing her racial identity from “Indian heritage” to “black” in recent years. Harris, whose mother is Indian and father is Jamaican, is the first woman of color and Asian American to serve as Vice President. Should she win the upcoming election, she would make history as the first female President of the United States.
