In a heated exchange on ABC's This Week, Republican Florida representative Byron Donalds and host George Stephanopoulos engaged in a fiery debate over the Republican party's questioning of Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity. Donalds dismissed the issue as a "phony controversy" and proclaimed that he didn't care, while Stephanopoulos pressed him on why the questioning persisted.

The controversy stems from comments made by former President Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference. Trump argued that Harris's racial identity had shifted throughout her political career. He pointed out that while in the United States Senate, Harris was recognized as the first Indian American senator by the Associated Press. However, during her presidential campaign, emphasis shifted towards her African American heritage.

When pressed by Stephanopoulos on why Republicans were fixated on questioning Harris's racial identity, Donalds attempted to deflect the issue by highlighting that it was a topic of discussion on social media. Stephanopoulos was quick to challenge Donalds, insisting on an answer to his question.

The clash between Donalds and Stephanopoulos occurs in the midst of differing perspectives within the Republican party. Prominent figures like Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and House Speaker Mike Johnson have urged their party to avoid attacking Harris's heritage. Graham emphasized the importance of focusing on her policies and record instead.

Furthermore, Axios reported last month that Johnson encouraged Republican members to refrain from editorializing on Harris's background and rather concentrate on criticizing her actions and decisions. The report also mentioned that Donalds, in a closed-door meeting, encouraged his colleagues to stick to discussing Harris's record, further indicating the internal divisions within the party on this issue.

The controversy over Harris's racial identity coincides with ongoing debates about future debates between Trump and Harris. Trump recently announced his desire to debate Harris on Fox News, while Harris's team has maintained that ABC, the original network chosen for the second presidential debate, should host the event. Trump has claimed that his litigation against ABC and Stephanopoulos presents a conflict of interest.

In response to Trump's request for a debate on Fox News, Harris's campaign spokesperson, Michael Tyler, accused Trump of being afraid and attempting to back out of the previously agreed-upon debate. According to Tyler, Trump's move to involve Fox News is an attempt to find refuge on a network perceived as more favorable to Republicans.

The dispute surrounding Kamala Harris's racial identity continues to unfold, sparking division within the Republican party and creating a rift in the planning of a potential debate between Trump and Harris. As the issue remains in the spotlight, the focus shifts to how political figures and pundits will navigate this complex and sensitive topic moving forward.