BCN Ep #13 Trump’s controversial remarks raise questions about Black voter push

BCN Ep #13
Trump’s controversial remarks raise questions about Black voter push

Former President Trump’s controversial remarks that Black voters will back him because of his legal woes are raising new questions about whether the GOP’s likely standard-bearer will help or hurt his party with the demographic.

Trump is making a concerted effort to win over Black men in what is expected to be a razor-tight contest with President Biden. His appearance at the Sneaker Con event in Philadelphia and his flirtation with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as a vice presidential candidate are both examples of his campaign’s strategy.

Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation (BCF), said Trump’s election and reelection campaign indicates a change happening within the GOP.

“The Democratic Party has never had to fight for the Black vote. They’ve never had to worry about Republicans going back to the Black vote. Now it’s happening and they don’t know what to do,” Johnson said. “The Republican Party is changing. This is not the same Republican Party as our grandparents. This is a Republican Party that is inclusive. This is a Republican Party that is a big tent.”

Johnson pointed to successes Black Americans saw under Trump’s administration, including 10 years of funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and an increase in homeownership from 41 percent to 46 percent.