The Harris campaign has rejected criticism of its race- and gender-specific fundraising efforts, arguing that the tactic is just regular electioneering.
Harris' campaign has held multiple fundraisers in the past week since her elevation to the top of the candidate list, hosting Zoom events with titles like “Winning with Black Men,” “White Men for Harris” and “Karen for Kamala” in an effort to attract a diverse range of demographics to her new campaign.
But the event has also come under fire from critics on social media, with some accusing the campaign of reminiscing about “racial segregation.”
'White Men Supporting Harris' virtual meeting sparks online uproar: 'Most Beta Gathering in History'
Vice President Kamala Harris. (Fox News)
“Kamala Harris' campaign is making segregation fashionable again,” commented one X user in response to the series of events.
“To you guys, it's all about race,” another critic said of the incident.
The Harris campaign's “White Men for Harris” rally, scheduled for Monday, may attract the most criticism, with some critics calling it “racist” and “awkward,” while others called it “condescending.”
“There's nothing more 'progressive' than a self-hating white guy with low self-esteem, a man bun and a degree in gender studies from SUNY Binghamton thinking that if he signs up for this crap he might make his first black female friend and maybe even a date. This is 'trying too hard' and is likely to backfire because it's too desperate,” conservative radio host Jason Luntz told Fox News Digital.
Others have mocked potential attendees of the event, saying it targets soft or weak men.
“This is going to be the most beta gathering ever,” one user claimed.
US Vice President Kamala Harris attends a high-speed internet infrastructure event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (Reuters/Evelyn Hochstein)
“White Men for Harris” to hold conference call after 160,000 white women join Zoom “Karens for Kamala”
Still, the unique Zoom fundraising campaign has been at least somewhat successful, with nearly 100,000 Black men and women raising nearly $2 million before more than 160,000 people joined the “Karen Supports Kamala” call.
Harris' campaign also dismissed the criticism, noting that former President Donald Trump had used similar tactics.
“It's a little confusing. Campaigns are in the business of building coalition groups, for example, Latinos support Trump,” Harris campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told Fox News Digital.
According to a report from the New York Post, Trump's supporters in Congress have been hosting events tailored to the black community, including a pro-vote event titled “Cigars, Cognac and Congress” that has been held primarily in black communities.
Former President Donald Trump takes center stage at the Republican National Committee's Spring Donor Retreat in Palm Beach, Florida on May 4, 2024 (Donald Trump 2024 Campaign)
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Trump is also actively seeking the support of Hispanic voters, and according to a report by NBC News, the campaign used the slogan “Latinos support Trump” at a rally in Las Vegas last month, revamping its outreach to Hispanic voters. The campaign abandoned the traditional slogan “Latinos support Trump” and adopted a new slogan that emphasizes that Latinos are Americans.
“African-American, Latino, Asian American, European American, no matter where you come from, we're all Americans,” Jaime Flores, Hispanic communications director for the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign, told NBC News.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Michael Lee is a reporter for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, he worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.