Cover Image Source: Getty Images| (L) Photo by Justin Sullivan; (R) Photo by Spencer Platt
Former White House aide and reality star Omarosa Manigault Newman has shocked many by publicly announcing her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. Known for her past ties to Donald Trump, Newman’s endorsement has raised eyebrows given her previous role as one of Trump’s favored staff members and a contestant on The Apprentice.
She later served as the communications director for the Office of Public Liaison during Trump’s administration before leaving in 2017 and publishing her explosive memoir Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House.
In a recent interview with Variety, Newman explained her decision to support Harris, saying, “Donald Trump has been defeated before, and I think what’s grating on his nerves the most is that this [next] defeat may come at the hands of a woman of color.” She further noted Trump’s history of targeting women of color in his public attacks, adding, “He reserves his most vitriolic attacks for women of color. To lose to a woman of color would be devastating to his ego.”
Newman’s endorsement of Harris comes as she envisions the historical significance of Harris possibly becoming the first female president. She described such a victory as a powerful and transformative moment for Black Americans, particularly young girls and boys, who would see a woman of color rise to the highest office in the land. “To get this close is still so significant,” Newman told The Hill.
Reflecting on her time working closely with Trump, Newman shared her thoughts on his missed opportunities as a leader. In her memoir Unhinged, she recounts her observations from within the Trump administration, portraying Trump as a figure who could have led the nation toward progress but ultimately failed. In her recent interview, she noted, “I believe the nation will choose the leader they need at this time, and I believe that that leader is Vice President Kamala Harris.”
She also criticized Trump’s often disjointed speeches, pointing out his tendency to ramble and use limited vocabulary, which she argued highlighted his shortcomings as a leader. Unhinged, published in 2018, was Newman’s tell-all account of her time in the Trump White House, and it did not hold back, as reported by The Independent.
She described Trump as both “racist” and “mentally impaired,” accusations that sparked a legal battle when Trump’s campaign sued her for allegedly breaching a non-disclosure agreement. Though Trump lost the case in 2021, tensions between the two have persisted, with Newman warning that a second Trump term could be even more extreme and unrestrained than the first.
Newman has been a vocal critic of Trump’s handling of racial issues, often calling out his divisive rhetoric. Earlier this year, when Trump claimed that millions of immigrants were “taking Black jobs,” Newman labeled the remarks as “outrageous.” In response to his comments, she told USA Today that more Americans are beginning to recognize that Trump is ill-equipped to handle the complex racial challenges facing the country.
Despite her once-close relationship with Trump, Newman has firmly distanced herself from the former president, aligning herself with Harris, who she believes represents the leadership the country needs at this critical time.
