Donald Trump’s team has intensified its outreach to Black voters following his conviction on 34 felony counts, arguing that both Trump and Black communities share frustrations over an unfair justice system.
Why it matters: This strategy reflects Trump’s ongoing theme of being a victim of political persecution, a narrative he hopes will resonate with Black voters, particularly men. As Reported by Axios Despite Trump’s history of racially charged comments, his campaign is trying to forge a connection with these voters.
President Biden and other Democrats have criticized Trump’s approach. Biden recently stated that Trump is “pandering and peddling lies and stereotypes for your vote, so he can win for himself, not for you.”
Driving the news: Trump’s strategy is unfolding as polls indicate he is making inroads into Biden’s strong support among Black voters, 92% of whom backed Biden in 2020. In a close race, even small shifts in key voting blocs can be significant.
Trump’s most visible surrogates, including Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, are actively courting Black voters. “The reason we’re seeing so many African Americans come into the Trump campaign — two big things: jobs and justice,” Scott (R-S.C.) told CNN on Friday. He added that his experiences as an African American in the Deep South have given him insights into racial justice issues now mirrored in Trump’s legal battles. told by AP News
Donald Trump Jr. and other allies have shared clips of listeners of the popular radio show “The Breakfast Club” expressing support for Trump after his conviction. The former president’s campaign and the New York Young Republican Club are also planning potential events in the city’s outer boroughs, according to club president Gavin Wax.
Scott Presler, a conservative activist with the Republican National Committee, has urged his followers to reach out to Black men. From ABC News, Vernon Jones, a former DeKalb County executive and GOP state legislator in Georgia suggested that Trump’s conviction highlights broader issues within the American criminal justice system that resonate with Black voters.
Reality check: There is little evidence that Trump’s argument of shared victimhood is significantly swaying Black voters. Civil rights advocates question Trump’s comparison of his privileged legal troubles with the systemic challenges faced by underserved communities.
Critics point to Trump’s past, including allegations of discrimination against Black apartment seekers in the 1970s and his calls for the death penalty for the wrongly convicted Central Park Five. Former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers criticized the comparison, stating on X, “Y’all out here acting like Trump is Mandela. Cut it out … Trump broke the law. 12 peers held him accountable.”
