There could not be more stark differences in the campaigns thus far of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the former of whom has been hanging out more with Hollywood elitists while the latter has spent a majority of his time campaigning among ordinary Americans.
Saturday was a case in point: Biden raised some $28 million attending a swanky fundraising event in L.A. emceed by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and featuring former President Barack Obama as well as actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, along with many others. Trump, meanwhile, traveled to a black church in Detroit where the point wasn’t to raise money but to connect with a demographic of voters he considers important enough to court.
That fact wasn’t lost on the church attendees; one black pastor thanked Trump for coming and pointed out that Obama never bothered to show up there, and Biden only attends events held by national black organizations like the NAACP. In fact, on Saturday, the former president’s campaign announced that it had started the “Black Americans for Trump” Coalition.
The coalition touted endorsements from elected officials like Rep. Byron Donalds, U.S. Representative, Rep. Wesley Hunt, Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Burgess Owens, Rep. John James, North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson and NJ County Commissioner Melanie Collette, Community Engagement Director for the NJ Legislative District 1 Office.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump announces ‘Black Americans for Trump,’ a coalition with endorsements from elected officials, athletes, entertainers, community leaders, and pastors who love our country. The coalition launches ahead of the Juneteenth holiday acknowledging and commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States,” the press release said.
“President Trump accomplished more for Black Americans than any other president in recent history by implementing America First policies on the economy, immigration, energy, law and order, and foreign policy. Historic rates of Black voters now support President Trump, and the reason is simple: Black voters know that President Trump is the only presidential candidate who can deliver results on day one because he already has, including landmark unemployment rates for Black Americans, increased median income for Black households, historic permanent funding for HBCUs, comprehensive bipartisan criminal justice reform, and nearly $50 billion in funds to revitalize Opportunity Zones,” it added.
“Never has it been more clear that Joe Biden’s reckless reversal of President Trump’s America First policies is the very reason why Black communities have been utterly decimated under his Administration with sky-high grocery and gas prices, untenable housing costs, an invasion of illegal migrants and rampant violent crime,” Team Trump Senior Advisor Lynne Patton said. “On day one, Donald Trump will reinstate all his proven policies on immigration, law and order, energy, and the economy and put Black America First.”
While Biden yucked it up with celebrities — who influence almost no votes whatsoever — and raised millions for his campaign, Trump was doing legitimate voter outreach with a demographic he considers important but who Biden and Democrats have been taking for granted for decades. Perhaps that’s why more black voters are beginning to shift to Trump, along with a massive number of Latino Americans: They can see he legitimately wants to earn their vote and not insult them by avoiding meeting them on their own ground, as he did at a Harlem bodega and a Manhattan construction site during his bogus ‘hush money’ trial.
“While Black Americans have been left behind by Joe Biden, President Trump has prioritized the Black community,” Team Trump Black Media Director Janiyah Thomas said. “Donald J. Trump’s coalition message to the Black community is simple: If you want to return to the policies that created rising wages, more quality jobs, stronger borders, and safer neighborhoods, then join Black Americans for Trump and vote for President Trump in November.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.