It’s a claim that echoes the one first made by Trump in July, when he participated in an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists. At that event, Trump said of Harris that “She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage.”

Janet Jackson has falsely claimed that Kamala Harris is not Black and has a white father, echoing words from Harris’s electoral opponent Donald Trump. The singer, 58, whose brother Tito passed away aged 70 last week, made the surprising comments about the vice-president when asked how she felt about the US having its first female Black president.

"Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse," Jackson's manager says after singer questioned if Harris was black