Trump says Kamala Harris called Joe Biden ‘racist and incompetent’ after she accepts VP nomination

PRESIDENT Donald Trump accused Kamala Harris of calling Joe Biden "racist" and "incompetent" Wednesday as she accepted the nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention.

As Sen Harris made history as the first black woman on a major party ticket, Trump took to Twitter to slam her relationship with Biden.

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"BUT DIDN’T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDN’T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???" Trump tweeted late Wednesday night.

Trump's camp has been peddling the claim that Harris called Biden a racist since he announced she would be his running mate last week.

"Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received," a statement from Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson said after Biden made his VP announcement.

The claim reportedly stems from a moment during the first Democratic primary debate in June 2019 when Harris, Biden and the rest of the candidates at the time were discussing Pete Buttigieg's record with Bend, Indiana's black population, according to The Washington Post.

Harris, at the time, directed the conversation to Biden – who had recently discussed his ability to work with senators with whom he disagreed, including ones who supported segregation.

However, Harris prefaced her comments by telling Biden outright, "I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground," before launching into criticism of the former VP.

"I was actually very … it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country," Harris said.

"And it was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose busing," she added, referring to federal efforts to integrate schools by busing black students into majority white districts.

Harris went on to recount her own experience being bused into a California district when she was a little girl.

Biden said Harris' critique was a "mischaracterization of my position across the board." He added that he did "not praise racists."

The debate moved on shortly thereafter.

In a speech a few days after the debate, Biden did apologize for his previous comments, directly contradicting what the Trump campaign said about the Biden-Harris ticket.

"Was I wrong a few weeks ago to somehow give the impression to people that I was praising those men who I successfully opposed time and again? Yes, I was. I regret it," Biden said.

"I'm sorry for any of the pain or misconception I may have caused anybody."

Harris and Biden were not the only ones Trump took shots at during Wednesday's night's DNC speeches. He also slammed former President Barack Obama, who delivered a scathing speech accusing Trump of treating the presidency as "one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves."

Trump again took to Twitter to slam Obama in a series of tweets.

"HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!" Trump wrote.

Trump's tweet paralleled claims he previously made, alleging Obama was part of a plan to undermine his presidency.

"WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?" Trump added of Obama's support for Biden.

In Obama's speech, he accused the Trump administration of trying to discourage Americans from voting in the November election.

"They know they can't win you over with their policies so they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote," Obama said. "That is how they win."

He urged Americans: "Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy."

The former president backed the Biden-Harris ticket, saying his VP shows "respect and dignity," and "empathy" to everyone he meets.

"Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world – and as we've learned from this pandemic, that matters," Obama said.

"Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow.

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