Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Jane Fraser’s Citigroup exceeds expectations—and breaches regulation, Singaporean politician Josephine Teo says data and oil shouldn’t be compared, and racism and sexism wield their ugly head in the 2024 presidential race. Have a terrific Thursday!
– Vicious attack. President Donald Trump yesterday spouted a new—and not so new—line of attack against Vice President Kamala Harris. In a controversial interview at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention, he questioned Harris’s biracial identity—and seemed to accuse her of playing up one or the other side of her heritage for political gain.
Harris is Black and Indian—and, if elected, would be the first female president, first Black woman president, and first South Asian president. Trump said: “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?”
The outrageous line of attack attempts to turn one of Harris’s strengths into a liability. Harris’s biracial identity helped rally 44,000 Black women to gather on Zoom and raise $1.5 million in three hours. That group then inspired others including South Asian voters, white women, and even “white dudes for Harris,” who have raised millions.
As the AP points out, Harris’s full identity has always been part of her political career. In the Senate, she was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Long before that, she attended the HBCU Howard University and pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. She’s often referenced the influence her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, had on her upbringing, and during the 2020 election cycle her campaign included a stop making dosa with fellow Indian-American Mindy Kaling. Harris has spoken about her mother’s understanding that the world would view her two daughters as Black women, and her determination to raise them as Black while acknowledging their Indian heritage as well.
It’s hardly the first time Trump has wielded race as an insult; during Nikki Haley’s campaign for the GOP nomination, he seemed to mock Haley’s birth name (Nimarata Nikki Randhawa), calling her “Nimbra.” But it is the first time since Harris launched her 2024 presidential campaign—and since she’s enjoyed a spurt of positive media coverage and popularity online—that Trump has tried this particular tactic. Going after Harris on her biracial identity in particular is likely familiar to the 10% of the U.S. population that identifies as multiracial.
It was likely only a matter of time until racism and sexism became part of this election. The questions now are: How far have we come since Trump’s ‘birtherism’ campaign against Barack Obama and his 2016 denigrating of Hillary Clinton? And will voters see through the attack this time around?
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
The Broadsheet is Fortune’s newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women. Today’s edition was curated by Nina Ajemian. Subscribe here.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
- New from MPW. Fortune’s Most Powerful Women community has debuted a new group of ambassadors. Learn more about these representatives of MPW, including Full Circle Strategies and Win With Black Women founder Jotaka Eaddy, Rich Talent Group founder Jana Rich, and more. PR Newswire
- Big reputation. Citigroup, led by CEO Jane Fraser, has turned around its “laughingstock” reputation, beating Morgan Stanley’s stock price target by 20%. However, Reuters reported that the bank breached the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Regulation W, which limits the transactions banks can make with their affiliates. Fortune
- Valuable resource. Josephine Teo, Singapore’s minister for digital development and information, pushed back against the comparison of data to oil. “Data is actually more useful when it is reused in many different contexts,” she said at Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore. Fortune
- Rugby riches. Michele Kang, founder of tech company Cognosante and owner of multiple women's soccer teams, will donate $4 million to the U.S. women’s rugby team over the next seven years following the team’s bronze medal finish. Kang said in a news release, “[N]ow is the moment to unlock the full potential of these incredible female athletes and inspire generations to come.” New York Times
- Held accountable. Federal judiciary employees made 566 misconduct allegations between 2020 and 2022, according to a report from the federal Government Accountability Office. Over 40 of the allegations were of sexual harassment. A number of Democratic lawmakers are advocating for better employee protection. The 19th
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell will step down from her role. She plans to take on a new job at the network, focused on “major cross-platform interview specials.”
White House executive chef Cris Comerford has retired after almost 30 years. Comerford was the first woman and first person of color to hold the role.
DHL Global Forwarding appointed Aditi Rasquinha as chief executive officer of DHL Global Forwarding Greater China. Most recently, she was head of ocean freight Asia Pacific at DB Schenker.
Torch promoted Heather Conklin to chief executive officer from chief operating officer.
Curriculum Associates promoted Kelly Sia to chief executive officer from the role of president.
Visionaries Club hired Katy Sexton as vice president of communications and Betty Lu as chief of staff. Previously, Sexton was global head of communications and marketing at Verlinvest. Lu served as chief of staff at Bain and Company.
ON MY RADAR
X CEO Linda Yaccarino contends with pitfalls of sharing power with Elon Musk Wall Street Journal
JD Vance’s name change is just one more of his battles against periods (this time, his own) The Atlantic
The rise of the IVF influencers Forbes
PARTING WORDS
“My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical and emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it.”
—Nada Hafez, an Olympic fencer from Egypt, on competing while seven months pregnant
