Senate Republican whip advises Trump to campaign against Harris’s policies over race

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-SD) cautioned former President Donald Trump to remain focused on “the issues” in the 2024 election cycle, specifically regarding Vice President Kamala Harris.

Thune gave his advice when responding to comments Trump made on Harris at the National Association of Black Journalists’s annual conference, during which he said Harris never identified as black until several years ago. Harris is of black and Southeast Asian descent.

“The campaign is, needs to be, must be about the issues, and there’s plenty to talk about,” Thune told the press. “I just think that’s where the focus needs to be. That’s how we’re going to win in November.”

Thune’s comment echoes similar warnings made by other high ranking Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Richard Hudson’s (R-NC). Johnson has argued the election will be determined by “policies and not personalities.”

Last week, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) backtracked his comment on calling Harris “a DEI” vice president, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Tennessee Congressman said he regretted saying this against Harris, though he also said “it was the truth.”

Prior to this Burchett’s aboutface, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) claimed that Harris being referred to as a DEI candidate was similar to being called racial slurs. When asked if he believed Burchett had been racist with his previous comment against Harris, he stated he has “a good relationship” with Burchett but that he sometimes uses “rhetoric that is racist.”