Byron Donalds defends Trump’s claims that black voters like him because they face indictments and ‘political persecution’
The former president spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday evening, addressing a crowd of black voters.
‘I was charged a second time, a third time and a fourth time! And a lot of people said this is why black people like me, because they’ve been hurt so badly and discriminated against,” Trump said.
‘And they actually saw me as… I’m being discriminated against. It was pretty amazing.”
In response to Trump’s claims, Donalds, who is black, said in a Sunday interview on NBC’s Meet the Press that what Trump said was correct.
“When you highlight the fact that this is indeed political persecution by the Department of Justice and by radial prosecutors across our country, this is something similar that black people are dealing with, with the justice system itself,” Donalds said.
Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds defended Donald Trump’s claims that black voters, as the former president said he and black voters ‘have been hurt and discriminated against so badly’
The former president spoke Friday evening at the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina, where he addressed a crowd of black voters
The Florida representative, who endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid for the White House, then said the country’s economy “is in shambles” and that “our border is completely unsecured.”
“These issues are of great concern to Black voters, as they are to every voter in our country,” the 44-year-old added.
Welker then interrupted Donalds and said, “Congressman, let’s be clear. All four charges against former President Trump were returned by grand juries. There is no evidence that the charges are political in nature.”
Cedric Richmond, co-chairman of President Joe Biden’s campaign, also found Trump’s comments appalling.
“It is insulting for Donald Trump to claim that Black Americans will support him because of his criminal charges. It is idiotic and downright racist,” Richmond said in a statement on Saturday.
When asked what he thought of Richmond’s response, Donalds said Biden’s co-chairman is “just trying to play politics” and “play racial politics.”
“The number one reason why minority voters in our country want to support Donald Trump is because he has done the job of president, he has done a great job as president. Our country was safe, the economy was great – these are all things that Donald Trump talked about on Friday night,” Donalds said in the interview.
During his speech on Friday, Trump also complained that he was being charged for “nothing.” He claimed that black voters understand that because they see that “what happens to me happens to them.”
“When I took the mugshot in Atlanta, that mugshot was No. 1. You know who was embraced more than anyone else?” Trump asked the crowd. ‘The black population.’
“Does that make any sense?” Trump asked.
The Florida congressman is rumored to be a potential vice president for Trump if he wins the 2024 election
He received cheers and applause from the audience.
“It was pretty amazing, but there may be something there,” the former president added.
During the event, Trump also joked, “These lights are so bright in my eyes that I can’t see that many people.” But I only see the black one. I don’t see any white ones.’
“You see, I’ve come this far. That’s how far I’ve come,” he added.
The Biden campaign did not specifically address these comments, but Trump’s decision to address the predominantly Black crowd at all.
“Trump’s audacity to address a room full of Black voters during Black History Month as if he is not the proud poster boy for modern racism,” Jasmine Harris, Black Media Director for the Biden campaign, said in a statement on Saturday.
Donalds is rumored to be a potential vice president for Trump if he wins the 2024 presidential election.
In October, the congressman turned to X (formally Twitter) and announced he was running to become the first African-American Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I look forward to securing the votes of a majority of my Republican colleagues to become the first African American Speaker, the first Speaker of the great state of Florida and the next Speaker of the 118th Congress,” he said.
Trump’s mugshot from Fulton County, Georgia. He said the “black population” embraced it more than any other group
In announcing his run for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Donalds said his “sole focus” will be to secure the border and “responsibly” fund the government.
“My sole focus will be securing our border, responsibly funding our government, advancing a conservative vision for the House of Representatives and the American people, and expanding our Republican majority.”
“As a member of this conference, I have seen firsthand the dedication of my colleagues to improving the lives of their constituents and the future of America.”
“We come from different walks of life, but share the common aspiration for a more perfect union,” he added in his candidacy announcement.
Biden won about 90 percent of the black vote in 2020.
While high, that is a decline from the support black voters gave to Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 rival, which stood at 93 percent.
President Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president, received 97 percent of the vote during his 2012 re-election.