Pastor Al Sharpton condemned former President Trump’s recent comments about race and urged voters to “look at his record” on past issues involving black people before relying on his rhetoric.
Sharpton joined MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on Friday and was asked about Trump’s recent comments highlighted by Semafor. Trump has touted having “too many black friends” and cannot be considered a racist.
“I have so many black friends that I wouldn’t be friends with them if I were racist,” Trump said in an interview. “They would know better and faster than anyone else.” If they thought I was racist, just wait two minutes. “I am not a racist!”
Wallace asked Sharpton how the media should cover the former president’s controversial comments.
“I think it should be covered with records. I don’t think we should take the bait… that we have to prove that Donald Trump is a racist,” Sharpton responded.
He added that he knows Trump and believes he is a racist, but “that’s not something we have to prove.”
“Look at his record. He always used race as bait,” the pastor claimed.
Sharpton then listed Trump’s harsh comments about the Central Park Five, who were wrongfully convicted of brutal sexual assault in 1989. He specifically referenced his rhetoric following the “Unite the Right” Charlottesville rally, where he said there were “very fine people” on both sides of the conflict.
He brought up the same case even after the former president was found guilty in a hush trial held in Manhattan late last month.
In another example, Sharpton noted that Trump was president during the 2020 George Floyd protests and that he chased away protesters outside the White House for a photo opportunity. He went on to claim that the presumptive Republican nominee, a businessman and former TV show host, began his political career by claiming that former President Obama was not actually an American and questioning his place of birth.
“birth. Has he even questioned Joe Biden’s birthplace?” Sharpton asked. “It’s all about race, he’s always baiting race against black people.”
“So all you have to do is look at his records. I told his supporters to show him where he stands on the issue of race,” he added.
Sharpton went on to say that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it will be a duck.
“I believe he is a racist,” he said. “I don’t believe that everyone who votes for him is a racist, but I believe that every racist votes for Donald Trump.”
Sharpton’s comments come as Trump holds a narrow lead over Biden, according to a tally of polls from Hill/Decision Desk HQ, even after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the hush money case.
This is not the first time Trump has been scrutinized for his comments about black Americans. He mentioned his indictment last February, saying he tried to win the crowd’s sympathy by claiming they liked him because black voters like him also suffered discrimination.
He also compared his personal legal battle to the situation black men face in America’s criminal justice system, saying “the black population” loved seeing his mug shot in the Fulton County, Georgia, election interference case.
Black leaders and Democrats condemned the former president’s comments.
In recent months, Trump has made a concerted effort to win over black men during his campaign. Especially since Biden appears to be losing power with voters of color. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the 2024 vice presidential nominee, has been campaigning for the former president to win support from black people.
