Trump Campaign Mocks Harris, Leaves Ticket For Tupac Shakur To 2020 VP Debate

KEY POINTS

The Trump campaign left a ticket for late rapper Tupac Shakur to the 2020 VP debate
The move was a dig at Harris, who mistakingly named Shakur as the "best rapper alive"
Harris was the first Black and Southeast Asian woman to participate in a presidential campaign debate

The Trump campaign mocked Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris by leaving a debate ticket for hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur after she called him "the best rapper alive."

During a press conference Wednesday, the president's senior campaign adviser Jason Miller revealed they left a ticket for Tupac ahead of the debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Harris, The Hill reported.

"I'm personally more of a Biggie (Smalls) fan," Miller joked. "But if he is still alive, we will have a ticket for Tupac."

Trump campaign's communications director Tim Murtaugh confirmed reports that a ticket was being left for the late rapper and dismissed claims that it was a joke.

The move is a jab at Harris after she made the blunder at the NAACP's virtual convention last month. According to Fox News, CNN commentator Angela Rye asked the Democratic candidate who she thought was the "best rapper alive." Harris said Tupac, but corrected herself after the moderator reminded her that he was no longer alive.

"Not alive. I know, I keep doing that!" Harris said. "Um, who would I say? I mean, there's so many. There's some I would not mention right now because they should stay in their lane."

Kamala Harris asked, who’s the best rapper alive?

She answers @2PAC

Then says “Not alive, I know, I keep doing that.”

Tries to think of another living rapper. “There’s some I would not mention right now because they should stay in their lane.” pic.twitter.com/MZJ5FZC4qP
— Emily Brooks (@emilybrooksnews) September 25, 2020

Tupac Shakur was an American rapper and actor who became an icon for the 1990s gangsta-rap movement. He was shot multiple times on Sept. 7, 1996 after getting into an altercation with 21-year-old Crips gang member Orlando Anderson at the MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas. Shakur died six days later. His murder has never been solved.

The ploy came before a historic moment forHarris, who became the first Black and South Asian woman to participate in a presidential campaign debate. The event held high stakes for both vice presidential nominees, particularly in the wake of Trump's recent coronavirus diagnosis.

Debate organizers made multiple changes to safety protocols following reports of a spread of COVID-19 inside the White House. Pence and Harris were kept 12 feet apart, plexiglass barriers were placed between the candidates, and the audience was required to wear face masks.