Trump And His Campaign Amplify Birther Conspiracy Against Kamala Harris

President Trump stoked a controversial theory being promoted by supporters — and his campaign — that Sen. Kamala Harris is not eligible for the vice presidency.

The California Democrat was born in California and therefore qualifies for the job.

Trump, who led a birther conspiracy movement against former President Obama, told reporters Thursday that he heard a "highly qualified, very talented lawyer" opine that Harris didn't qualify to serve as vice president, but did not know if it was true or not. Trump was responding to a question and was referencing a Newsweek opinion piece by Law Professor John Eastman inaccurately calling into question Harris' eligibility.

"I heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements," Trump said. "I have no idea if that's right. I would have assumed that the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president."

Harris was born in Oakland, Calif., on October, 20, 1964. Experts say anyone born in the United States is an American citizen, which makes them eligible for the presidency.

The 14th amendment reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Harris' mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who died in 2009, was a cancer researcher from southern India who moved to California for graduate school before Harris was born. Her father, economist Donald Harris, emigrated from Jamaica.

Biden officials quickly denounced the remarks.

"This is what racism sounds like," Biden Senior advisor Symone Sanders tweeted. [Copyright 2020 NPR]