Donald Trump stormed into Democratic territory on Saturday, telling a black church congregation in Detroit that he was giving African Americans record low unemployment and urging them not to vote for “king of the super-predators” Joe Biden.
Trump has made inroads among minority voters, and his visit to the 180 Church is the latest sign that his campaign believes Biden could be damaged with some of his core support.
“We think we’re going to win this state. We are currently well ahead,” he said on Saturday afternoon.
‘So it’s an honor to be here. It is a very important area for us.
“We have done more for black people, and I say this, I say this with pride, more than any president since Abraham Lincoln. That’s a big statement.’
Former President Donald Trump visited Detroit, Michigan on Saturday. First, he held a roundtable discussion at 180 Church, which serves an African-American congregation
Trump has made similar claims before, though his visit to the city and a black church marks a bold step and a sign of confidence in the Trump campaign.
But as he sat before a giant, illuminated crucifix, Trump had to stretch the truth to get his point across about his record of serving Black Americans.
“We have reached the lowest African-American unemployment rate,” he said.
“The lowest African-American poverty rate ever recorded, ever recorded during my four years.
‘We have lifted 6.6 million people out of poverty. Black Americans saw their largest increase in homeownership ever.”
In fact, Black unemployment trended downward during Trump’s four years in office (except during the pandemic shutdown), but reached even lower numbers under Biden.
And he reminded his audience of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which increased spending on prisons and police, as well as billions of dollars in preventative measures to reduce spiraling crime.
“You know, he’s walking around right now talking about the black vote,” Trump said. “He’s the king of the super-predators and he wrote the 1994 bill that you talk about so much.
In fact, then-first lady Hillary Clinton used the term “super-predator,” while Biden actually distanced himself from the term when it was applied to young, black offenders.
Trump took part in a roundtable discussion at the church to hear about the issues facing the local community.
About 1,000 people gathered at 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan to hear Trump speak
Guests listen to the national anthem prior to the start of a roundtable discussion with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump at 180 Church
The visit ended with a prayer for Trump and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for the former president who turned 78 a day earlier. He is seen here alongside veteran Carlos Chambers
It ended with a prayer and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for the former president who turned 78 a day earlier.
Trump’s itinerary highlighted the tightrope he is trying to walk in the 2024 election. He first visited an African-American church before speaking at a meeting of Turning Point Action, a group that the Anti Defamation League says targets racists and extremists attracts.
James Perkins, the pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, accused Trump of a political stunt.
“Donald Trump has the audacity to waltz into our city and pretend he wants to understand the struggles Black Detroiters face, but the reality is he doesn’t care,” he said.
“Every time Trump opens his mouth to talk to Black people, he demonizes us, insults us and makes empty promises that he will never keep.”
Charlie Kirk told the crowd at the Turning Point Action People’s Convention on Friday evening: ‘You have to find low-propensity voters in your life and get them registered to vote’
Robert Broderick and Rachel dance before the start of the conservative Turning Point Action’s the People’s Convention at Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan
Biden won Michigan in 2020 by three points. And few demographic groups are more important to Democrats than black voters.
But the Trump campaign is making inroads among a group that has expressed frustration with Biden.
According to a recent poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Biden’s approval rating among Black adults has fallen from 94 percent to 55 percent during his term.
And in Michigan, the former president has a slim lead of about half a point in the polling averages.
Trump told his audience that he would rebuild the city’s ailing auto industry, which he said had been destroyed by free trade deals.
The predominantly black congregation was joined by white Trump supporters on Saturday
“They are currently building the largest car factories in the world in Mexico, pretty close to the border,” he said, promising to slap huge tariffs on imported cars.
‘We want those factories to be built in our country, not in that country.
“We’re going to bring the auto industry back to Michigan.”
Michael Whatley, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the state was crucial to the November election.
“Everyone knows that if we don’t win Michigan, we’re not going to have a Republican in the White House,” he told Michigan Republicans at a celebratory dinner Friday evening, according to the Associated Press.
“Let me be more honest: If we don’t win Michigan, we won’t have Donald in the White House.”