Former President Trump visited Detroit on Saturday to engage with Black voters and launch a Black voter coalition, highlighting concerns over rising crime rates in predominantly Black communities. During a roundtable discussion at the 180 Church, Trump emphasized the impact of crime on the Black community, pointing to the 1994 crime bill authored by President Biden when he was a senator.
Trump criticized Biden's role in the legislation, which has been linked to mass incarceration disproportionately affecting Black Americans. The bill, signed into law by President Clinton, came in response to the crack cocaine epidemic that plagued Black communities in the 1980s and 1990s.
Biden, who has since distanced himself from the 1994 bill, acknowledged its negative impact on the Black community. Additionally, Trump referenced Biden's support for the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which imposed harsher penalties for crack cocaine possession, disproportionately affecting Black individuals.
Despite Biden's efforts to address past legislation, Trump accused him of referring to criminals as 'super predators' in the 1990s, a term actually used by Hillary Clinton in 1996. Clinton later apologized for the remark, clarifying that she wouldn't use such language today.
Trump's outreach to Black voters in Detroit comes amid a shift in voter sentiment, with polling indicating increased support for Trump among Black voters. While Biden still maintains a lead, Trump's engagement with the Black community has garnered attention.
Following the roundtable, the Biden-Harris campaign criticized Trump's outreach, questioning the diversity of his audience and accusing him of insincere attempts to connect with Black voters.
Trump's newly-formed Black coalition, 'Black Americans for Trump,' aims to prioritize Black interests through policies on immigration, law enforcement, energy, and the economy.
During the event, Trump was joined by prominent Black leaders and supporters, including Ben Carson, John James, and James Craig. The pastor of 180 Church expressed gratitude for Trump's visit, emphasizing the importance of Black voices in shaping political decisions.
