Trump says racist things about Black voters. Why are some defending him?

Last month, in a room full of Washington’s most prominent Black conservatives, Donald Trump declared that Black voters are drawn to him because of his criminal indictments and mugshot.

Democrats quickly denounced his comments as “racist”. But some Black Republicans have defended Trump, claiming that “life was better four years ago under his administration” because of certain initiatives during his presidency that were geared towards Black communities.

“No amount of media deception or liberal race-baiting will sway the minds of Black voters who will cast their ballots this November for safer streets, a better financial wellbeing, a secure border and a complete rejection of Joe Biden’s disastrous tenure,” Diante Johnson, the president of the Black Conservative Federation (BCF), said.

The incident puts a renewed spotlight on Black supporters of Trump, bringing into focus how these voters reconcile his racism as the 2024 election draws closer.

At a BCF gala on 24 February, where 500 Republicans gathered, Trump accepted the group’s Champion of Black America award, emphasizing support he has found in Black communities and linking it to his criminality.

“A lot of people said 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 … It’s been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, there’s something there.”

The former president continued, saying that his infamous mugshot was most embraced by “the Black population”, and claiming that Black people were “walking around” with it.

Trump, who is leading the Republican nomination for the 2024 election, has announced his intention to court Black voters, especially as polling shows an