Vice President Kamala Harris calls Trump’s attempts at appealing to Black voters “insulting’ and “racist,” but recent polls indicate minority voters are supporting Trump more with each passing day.
Trump’s Claims and Reactions
As part of his strategy to attract minority support, Trump claims that his legal struggles resonate with Black voters who see him as a victim of discrimination similar to their own experiences.
Trump’s Discrimination
Trump stated, “And a lot of people said that that’s why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against. And they actually viewed me as I’m being discriminated against.”
Kamala Harris Criticizes Trump’s Appeal to Black Voters
Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump’s attempts to appeal to Black voters through his felony conviction “insulting.”
Reducing the Black Population
Vice President Harris believes Trump’s attempt to connect with Black Americans based on his legal issues reduces the entire population to an offensive stereotype.
Insulting the People
“It’s insulting for a number of reasons, including [that] he has reduced the whole population of people down to a sum total of what is, in his mind, who they are. And he’s wrong.” Harris said in an interview with MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski.
Criticism from Biden’s Campaign
The Democrats responded to Trump’s claims by condemning them as racist tropes that inadvertently mock Black voters while emphasizing that Trump’s actions and policies have historically harmed Black communities.
Trump’s Effect on Black Voters
“This might come as news to Trump, but pushing tired tropes, wannabe Jordans, and mugshot t-shirts isn’t going to win over Black voters who suffered through record high unemployment and skyrocketing uninsured rates under his leadership,” said Biden spokesperson Sarafina Chitika.
Is Trump Racist
However, this is not the first time Trump has been called racist. This claim was made when Trump called for the death penalty for the Exonerated Five and promoted the false birther conspiracy against Barack Obama.
Further Allegations
Trump was also called racist when he referred to white nationalists in Charlottesville as “very fine people,” and there have also been allegations that he used racial slurs during his time on “The Apprentice.”
“So Many Black Friends”
Trump has repeatedly denied being racist, stating, “I have so many Black friends that if I were a racist, they wouldn’t be friends. They would know better than anybody, and fast.”
Trump’s Conviction and Campaign Strategy
Despite his felony conviction, Trump’s campaign claims a surge in contributions and uses his legal battles as a badge of honor.
Trump’s Badge of Honor
“Every time the radical-left Democrats, Marxists, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great, great badge of honor,” Trump said, linking his legal issues to broader discrimination.
Polls Indicate Shifts Among Minority Voters
Despite the racist allegations placed against the former President, recent polls show increasing support for Trump among Black and Latino voters.
Increasing Black and Latino Support
The polls indicate that 18% of Black respondents support Trump, which is a significant increase from the 2020 election. This is mirrored among Latino voters as well.
GOP’s Strategy and Minority Outreach
This year’s Republican National Convention featured numerous Black speakers, highlighting the party’s efforts to diversify and challenge its perception as a party for white people.
One After the Other
“They’ve had African American figure after African American figure at various levels of government,” said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at SMU.
Economic Concerns Over Immigration
Analysts argue that minority voters, including younger generations of Latinos, are now prioritizing economic policies over immigration issues, which has contributed to Trump’s rising support among these demographics.
The GOP’s Mistake
“What the Republican Party did wrong was to believe the trends of the older generation would transfer to their kids,” said Abraham Enriquez, a GOP delegate.
Lessons from the GOP’s Past Missteps
GOP leaders acknowledge that their earlier focus on immigration reform did not resonate as strongly with minority voters, and instead, Trump’s emphasis on economic policies has clearly proven more effective.
Not Always Black Democrats
Bruce LeVell, a Black businessman and Republican delegate, told the Wall Street Journal, “Let’s not try to define Black culture as if always, ‘If you’re Black, you’re Democrat.’ Let’s say, ‘OK, how about we just lay out these items of a pathway of success’ as Trump has done.”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / lev radin.
