“I think I was the best president for black people since Abraham Lincoln,” former President Donald Trump boasted on Wednesday, just one of many absurd lies and outrageous insults he told during an interview that aired at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention in Chicago.
Trump continued his recent attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who would be the first woman, second Black person and first person of Indian descent to lead the country if elected president. Trump even mispronounced “Kamala” as a sign of disrespect.
“I didn’t know she was black until a few years ago when she became black, and now she wants to be known as black,” Trump said of Harris, pretending to be unaware of her background, “so I don’t know if she’s Indian or black.”
My response: Just call her the Vice President.
Trump’s implication was clear: Harris recently changed her identity for political gain. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and a black Jamaican father.I said for a long timeShe embraces both sides of her identity and has been immersed in black culture since childhood — she graduated from historically black Howard University and was a member of a historically black sorority there — and she never downplays her black identity.
Trump was interviewed by three black female reporters for 34 minutes before abruptly stopping the interview.At the request of the campaignThe session began with Trump’s angry outburst to ABC News’ Rachel Scott, who asked a very legitimate question about why black Americans should trust Trump, given his past hostile comments and actions toward black people.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked such bad questions. The first question, you don’t even say hi, how are you? … It’s disgraceful,” Trump said angrily.
No doubt he would have preferred for Scott to ask him why he is the greatest leader the world has ever seen and then talk unchallenged for an hour, but she is a highly competent journalist and it is not her job to satisfy his enormous ego.
TrumpDecades of historyThey attack black people as criminals and use all sorts of racist tropes.False claimsIt has long been believed that Barack Obama, America’s only black president, was ineligible to serve as president because he was born in Africa, even though his birth certificate states he was born in Hawaii.
If Trump thinks this string of insults will help him win the black vote, he’s sorely mistaken. But maybe that wasn’t his goal. Maybe Trump just wanted to provoke a conflict with journalists who were just doing their jobs, and show MAGA supporters that he stood up to these women and punished them. I don’t think he would do that.
In his usual self-praise, Trump said Wednesday, “I love the black people of this country. I’ve done a lot for the black people of this country,” before launching into a string of lies and misleading statements about his record.
As stated in the documentationFrom PolitiFactI don’t have time to go into detail, but Trump made the following false claims:
- Illegal immigrants are “stealing black jobs.” Trump has tried hard to pit black Americans against immigrants, even though immigrants strengthen the economy and contribute to job creation for all. In fact, the Biden-Harris administrationLowestBlack unemployment and poverty rates are at record lows.
- “Everybody” wanted to overturn the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide, and allow states to make their own laws regarding reproductive rights.National opinion pollandVoting QuestionsPolls in several states have shown that support for abortion rights outweighs opposition. Trump also falsely claimed Democrats support abortion in the “ninth month” of pregnancy and support killing babies after they are born.
- Illegal immigrants and other foreigners vote in U.S. elections.
- Police allowed rioters to enter the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, seeking to overturn President Trump’s reelection defeat. In fact, the Department of JusticeBilling over $1,200Pardon those convicted of rioting. President Trump said on Wednesday that he would pardon convicted rioters if he determines they are innocent. Video taken on January 6 shows many of those convicted of crimes breaking into the Capitol, some of them attacking police officers.
More TrumpExaggeratedInflation rate under a Biden-Harris administration, number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S., etc. Trump also falsely claimed he had been criminally charged in federal court and in Georgia and New York state courts. ConvictedHe was indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records simply because he’s a Republican running for president.
Trump has called the vice president since President Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris as his successor.“Crazy” and “stupid as a stone.”Some of his supporters say she was promoted only because of her race and gender under promotion policies.DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
When asked at a conference of black journalists if Harris became vice president because of DEI, Trump said,Said“I really don’t know, it may or may not be.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
TrumpaddedShe is the “worst vice president ever.” No one outside of Trump and his allies has made that claim, but a survey of 154 historians and experts on the presidency found that TrumpWorst PresidentIn American history.
Trump’s shameful behavior at the meeting was a preview of the well-worn 20th century political tactics – full of outdated racist and sexist rants – that he believes will give him an advantage in a close presidential election.
The former president’s actions show that he remains a divider, not a uniter, and seek to return us to a time when black people and women were marginalized and treated like second-class citizens.
The contrast couldn’t be greater with Harris, who is focused on building a better, more prosperous future for all Americans and making America a country in reality, not just in name.
Donna Brazile is a political strategist, ABC News contributor, and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. She said:Hacking: Inside the break-in and vandalism that got Donald Trump into the White House.“
