The Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, faced criticism after questioning Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity at the Association of Black Journalists convention. In what many view as a deliberate attempt to provoke controversy, Trump asked, "Is she Indian or is she Black?" This remark has not only been labeled as offensive and divisive but also seen as a strategic move in the campaign.

Several Republicans, choosing to remain anonymous, expressed embarrassment and disappointment over Trump's comments, calling his performance "awful" and "not a demonstration on how to win over undecided voters." However, these remarks may not have been an accident or mere gaffe, but rather a deliberate strategy by the Trump campaign.

Matt Gertz of Media Matters highlights that Trump's comments were not a one-off incident but rather the launch of a new talking point. Trump doubled down on his remarks on social media, his campaign presented alleged evidence to support his claims, and his surrogates defended his comments on various television appearances. Even the context of the original question suggests that Trump was searching for an opportunity to inject this topic into the conversation instead of addressing Harris' qualifications to run for president.

Trump's campaign seems intent on making a spectacle out of Harris' racial heritage, with the aim of tapping into white anxieties regarding multiracial societies being perceived as "confusing." This strategy aligns with Trump's documented obsession with racial "purity" and his history of making derogatory remarks about nonwhite immigrants, claiming they are "poisoning the blood of our country."

Furthermore, Trump has extended this focus on identity to include attacks on Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff. Trump agreed with a right-wing radio host who referred to Emhoff as a "crappy Jew" because he is married to Harris. These attacks suggest a deliberate attempt to draw attention to what Trump and his campaign view as "race-mixing."

Notably, Trump has a pattern of mocking individuals based on physical characteristics, attempting to divert attention from his own shortcomings. Similarly, his campaign has ridiculed gender identity, with Trump expressing his disdain for sharing pronouns and making unfunny jokes about "gender-fluid" individuals.

Senator JD Vance, Trump's running mate, also joined in the controversial discourse by misgendering an Olympic athlete and expressing his disapproval of her inborn biology. This comes after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced baseless accusations of having an unfair advantage due to false claims about her gender identity.

The choice of Vance as a running mate, despite warnings from fellow Republicans, demonstrates a shared contempt for those whose bodies or identities do not conform to narrow views of acceptability. This hypocrisy becomes apparent when considering Vance's own biracial family, as his wife is Indian-American.

While Trump and Vance may believe that their campaign strategy will resonate with a significant portion of voters, many Americans find their obsession with policing others' bodies and identities distasteful. Kamala Harris has responded with humor and grace, labeling Trump's remarks as "the same old show" of divisiveness and disrespect.

As the fall season unfolds, it remains to be seen whether this controversial campaign strategy will gain traction or backfire. However, if Trump and Vance continue to make identity-based attacks a principal focus, the political landscape may become even more contentious and divisive.