US President Donald Trump poured scorn Tuesday, August 11, on the announcement of White House hopeful Joe Biden that Kamala Harris will be his running mate.

Harris, a senator from California, is now in contention to become America’s first female, first Black, and first Asian vice president.

Trump said he was “surprised” at Biden’s choice given Harris’ lackluster performance in the Democratic nomination race.

“She did very poorly in the primaries,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “And that’s like a poll.” 

He went on to attack Harris for her role in the bruising confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, calling her “the meanest, the most horrible, the most disrespectful of anybody in the US Senate.”

But Biden’s pick of Harris drew ringing endorsements from other quarters – including from Barack Obama, America’s first Black commander in chief.

“I’ve known Senator @KamalaHarris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job,” tweeted Trump’s predecessor.

“This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing.”

Biden’s decision to name Harris, announced in typical 2020 style on social media, was a crucial moment for Biden as he aims to build a broad coalition of voters to oust Trump from the White House. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com