CNN anchor challenges Byron Donalds on his past comment about Kamala Harris' race: "This is not gaslighting"

During a heated exchange with CNN anchor Boris Sanchez, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., stated that former President Trump would be concentrating on the concerns of American people rather than his adversary's race prior to the ABC News Presidential Debate.

At the NABJ conference in July, Trump questioned Harris' racial identity, and Sanchez asked him if he would accuse her of using her race to advance her political career.

"He essentially stated that she used her Blackness to advance her career, implying that he didn't realize she was Black because she didn't make it obvious. I'm paraphrasing his comment. She responded by inviting him to say that to her face. Do you think Donald Trump might do something similar tonight?" he asked Donalds.

"Because this issue doesn't matter to anyone, nobody cares about it," Donalds said.

He mentioned it once, but he hasn't brought it up again. What Donald Trump is focused on is the American people, as he listed the economy, immigration, and national security as key issues he would address in the debate.

"He will not discuss her identity, and nobody is, he stated. Although she may attempt to bring it up, it is irrelevant to the American public. Her broad support in the race is shallow because she does not address policy issues."

Sanchez informed Donalds, "Congressman, it was you who first mentioned it, without any prompting."

Boris, you're wrong about that, but okay, Donalds replied.

The CNN anchor questioned his guest, "Didn't he bring up the topic of her race first, implying she used it to her advantage?"

Rachel Scott, an ABC News correspondent, had brought up the claim at the journalism event, according to Donalds.

Donalds stated that Rachel Scott was the individual who introduced race and identity into the forum.

Scott posed the question to Trump at the NABJ, inquiring about his agreement with Republicans who considered Harris a "DEI hire." Scott was alluding to Republican Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett's statement to CNN's Manu Raju the previous week, in which he believed Harris to be a DEI hire after President Biden promised to select a Black female VP during his 2020 campaign.

Sanchez argued that it was a fair question to ask Trump, who is a Republican, about the issue brought up by Republicans.

Donalds scolded the CNN host, arguing that the issue had been overblown by the media.

One Republican on Capitol Hill stated that Trump did not discuss Harris' race in any of the 50 interviews he had conducted over the past 50 days. Another Republican was questioned about it.

"No, he is not talking about her identity," Donalds stated.

The debate over whether one or "several" Republicans made the slur about Harris continued.

Sanchez ended the tense interview with Donalds by accusing him of "gaslighting" his audience.

The Q&A session at the NABJ conference in July was intense from the outset, with Trump attacking ABC News’ Scott for posing an "offensive question" in her introduction.

Trump was questioned by Scott about whether he agreed with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill who described Harris as a "DEI" hire.

"I've known her for a long time, indirectly, not directly, and she was always of Indian heritage. However, I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?"

A wave of criticism from Black journalists, the Harris campaign, and the White House was triggered by Trump's response.

"Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the way they identify is no one's right, and it is an individual's own decision. Only the person experiencing it can speak to it. It is disrespectful to anyone, regardless of their former leadership or presidency, to question their identity."

Planet Chronicle' Greg Wehner contributed to this article.