Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is under fire again as past comments continue to resurface. The Ohio Senator has faced renewed criticisms after footage emerged of him questioning Olympic star Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Games to address her mental health concerns. The remarks resurfaced just as Biles officially became the most successful US gymnast in history at the Olympic Games in Paris.
When Ms. Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Vance appeared on television and accused the media of celebrating the athlete’s “weakest moment.” He said Biles’ decision was not a reason to celebrate and was not a mark of her strength but “a tragedy.” Vance said he believes modern society is excessively “therapeutic” and encourages weakness over vigour.
Meanwhile, Ms. Biles has taken to social media to mock Donald Trump and his “black jobs” narrative. The former President has used the phrase several times, prompting black Americans to question what exactly he believes they are. After winning her ninth Olympic medal in Paris, Biles tweeted how much she loved her “black job.”
Trump doubled down on his “black job” description during one of the most controversial interviews of his campaign: a sit-down discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.
The interview was contentious from its opening moments when ABC reporter Rachel Scott asked the former President why black voters should trust him given his prior racially sensitive remarks. Trump immediately accused Scott of treating him disrespectfully and of represents “fake news.” The exchange drew laughter and audible gasps from the audience. When asked what he meant by “black jobs,” Trump said it included “anyone with a job.”
Perhaps even more controversially, Scott questioned Trump on whether he believed Vice President Kamala Harris was a “DEI hire,” as many Republicans had described her. Mr. Trump responded by asking what race Harris is, stating that she had previously identified as South Asian but more recently started calling herself black.
Harris did not directly acknowledge Mr. Trump’s remarks but described his Chicago interview performance as “the same old show.”