Headline RoundupAugust 14th, 2020

Trump References Widely Debunked Theory About Harris

Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Fake News, Campaign Rhetoric, Race And Racism, 2020 Election, Conspiracy Theories, Facts And Fact Checking

Summary from the AllSides News Team

President Donald Trump mentioned a widely-doubted theory about Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Thursday at the White House. The theory suggests Harris may be ineligible for the vice presidency because of purported issues with her birth status. Harris was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents; being born on U.S. soil qualifies an individual to run for the presidency or vice presidency, according to constitutional precedent. Trump mentioned the theory after being asked about it by a reporter; he detailed the claims that Harris may be ineligible before saying, "I don’t know about that, I just heard about it. I’ll take a look.” Coverage on all sides of the spectrum was notably similar. Journalists on both left and right framed the president's remarks as irresponsible; many left-rated voices, as well as some coverage from left- and center-rated outlets, framed the notion as "racist", and some reports linked the apparent misinformation to what "[Trump] used to power his rise into politics." Coverage from right-rated outlets rarely branded the president's comments as racist, but noted that they were widely refuted by constitutional law experts.

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From the Left

Trump gives credence to false, racist Harris conspiracy

Associated Press

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Associated Press

News

President Donald Trump on Thursday gave credence to a false and racist conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris’ eligibility to be vice president, fueling an online misinformation campaign that parallels the one he used to power his rise into politics.

Asked about the matter at the White House, Trump told reporters he had “heard” rumors that Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors “very serious.”

The conspiracy theory is...

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From the Right

Trump Floats False Kamala Harris Birther Theory After Being Given Every Opportunity To Refute It

The Daily Caller

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The Daily Caller

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President Donald Trump floated a false theory about presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris from the White House briefing room podium on Thursday.

Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis propagated the suggestion on ABC that Harris’ birth somehow disqualifies her from holding the presidency. Trump said he had “just heard” about the idea when asked to respond to the theory.

Harris was born in Oakland, California to immigrant parents and is qualified to hold the presidency. The new birtherism claim discussed by Ellis suggests that being born...

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From the Left

Trump Encourages Racist Conspiracy Theory About Kamala Harris

New York Times (News)

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News

President Trump on Thursday encouraged a racist conspiracy theory that is rampant among some of his followers: that Senator Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic vice-presidential nominee born in California, was not eligible for the vice presidency or presidency because her parents were immigrants.

That assertion is false. Ms. Harris is eligible to serve.

Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday, nevertheless pushed forward with the attack, reminiscent of the lie he perpetrated for years that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya.

“I heard it today that she doesn’t meet...

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