Who is Kamala Harris' father Donald Harris who Trump accused of being a Marxist in the debate

During the first presidential debate, former President Donald Trump accused Vice President Kamala Harris of Marxist beliefs, claiming that she had been influenced by her father, Donald Harris, a well-known economist. Trump argued that Harris had shifted her views from those she held in the past and suggested she now aligned with his philosophy. As per the reports of Yahoo news, he further said that Harris’ father, Donald Harris, taught her Marxist ideology, and joked about sending her a "MAGA hat." Kamala Harris reportedly laughed off the comment during the debate.

Donald Harris: Background and career

Born in Jamaica, Donald Harris is a post-Keynesian economist who has made contributions to Marxist theory. Retired as a professor, he was the first Black scholar to be appointed to a tenure-track position in the economics department at Stanford University. Leftist criticism of standard economic ideas has made Harris well-known, and some resistance to his tenure arose from worries that his opinions would have an undue influence on students. In addition to his work at Stanford, he was an economic counselor to his native Jamaica and a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

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Trump's Marxism accusation

During the debate, Trump emphasized that Kamala Harris’ father had a background in Marxism, accusing the vice president of embracing similar ideals. Trump claimed that Harris had abandoned her previous beliefs and now followed his views. He tied this change to her father’s influence, referring to Donald Harris as a "Marxist professor in economics" who had shaped her outlook.

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Kamala Harris has consistently expressed her support for capitalism, contrary to Trump's assertions. She has received endorsements from several business leaders, with over 80 chief executives backing her political career. Despite her father’s academic work in Marxist theory, Harris has distanced herself from these ideas and has made it clear that her economic views align with capitalist principles.

FAQs

What did Trump say about Kamala Harris' father?
During a debate, Donald Trump accused Kamala Harris of Marxist beliefs, claiming that her father, Donald Harris, influenced her with his Marxist teachings as an economics professor. Trump suggested she had adopted his ideology.

What is Donald Harris’ professional background?
Donald Harris is a post-Keynesian economist and was the first Black scholar to receive tenure at Stanford's economics department. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advised Jamaica on economic policies.