A poorly attended bus tour proved that there are not many “Black Voters for Trump”

The “Black Voters for Trump” bus tour serves as a stark reminder of disgraced former President Donald Trump’s struggle to revise history while displaying all the qualities that make him America’s most notorious racist and the leader of a fascist political movement.

In a showcase of overly ambitious political strategy, the Black Conservative Federation’s “Black Voters for Trump” bus tour rolled through key swing states this past week, but the tour’s much-publicized stops drew little more than crickets.

“There are not many Black Voters for Trump,” said Democratic political strategist James J. Devine, who faults the candidate for alienating so many Americans with the bigotry that makes him popular among narrow-minded, racist Republicans.

The tour, launched on September 6, was hoped to galvanize Black voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina in support of the 2020 election loser.

However, the anticipated crowds failed to materialize, leaving many of the advertised events sparsely attended and overshadowed by local skepticism.

The bus, festooned with slogans like “I’m not with her,” was met with such a lackluster reception at its final destination, in Baltimore, that it triggered a fit of rage for the candidate who is so obsessed with crowd sizes.

At a stop near a Chipotle and a McDonald’s under renovation at Havenwood Commons, the turnout was limited to a handful of local Republican Central Committee members and a few media personnel. Passersby reportedly responded with jeers, and local residents expressed frustration over the disruption.

Diante Johnson, President of the Black Conservative Federation, feigned enthusiasm despite the tepid reception, stating, “We are thrilled to mobilize in these vital swing states and bring our America First message directly to the communities.”

Johnson’s optimism was clearly not shared by many on the ground, as local media coverage showed more empty parking lot than engaged audience.

The tour’s timing is notably precarious, arriving just over two months before Election Day with Vice President Kamala Harris maintaining a significant lead among Black voters. Recent Pew Research Center data reveals that 77% of Black voters are inclined to support Harris, compared to a mere 13% for Trump.

In Baltimore, the tour featured a “special guest,” Kimberly Klacik, a Republican congressional candidate known for her high-profile but controversial campaign ads.

Klacik, along with MAGA operative Michaelah Montgomery, faced a nearly empty parking lot but posed for photos in the barren space, sparking local reactions that ranged from indifference to irritation.

Trump’s efforts to engage with Black voters have been marked by controversy, including his past disparaging remarks about Black communities and his dubious track record on racial issues. Critics have pointed out that his attempts to win over Black support often come across as inconsistent and insincere.

For instance, the tour’s stop in Baltimore also highlighted the glaring contrast between Trump’s rhetoric and his policies. Despite Trump’s claims of supporting Black communities through his “Platinum Plan,” many argue that his actions and statements have consistently undermined his credibility among Black voters.

Recent stops on the tour in Philadelphia and other cities saw disappointing attendance, underscoring a broader challenge for the Trump campaign in appealing to Black voters.

In Philadelphia, a scheduled event at Max’s Steaks, a local restaurant, was intended to highlight Trump’s appeal to Black voters. However, the event saw limited turnout. U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, a vocal supporter of Trump, acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic.

Donalds described the debate as a “slight win” for Trump, asserting that Trump focused on inflation, border security, and foreign policy, while he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for not addressing issues.

A significant point of contention during the tour emerged from an incident involving a Black barbershop owner in Philadelphia.

The shop, originally advertised as a venue for a business roundtable aimed at supporting Black small business owners, was repurposed as a backdrop for a Trump campaign event. The owner expressed frustration, feeling misled and exploited for political purposes.

Despite Trump’s attempts to improve his standing with Black voters, his campaign has struggled to make substantial inroads.

According to 2020 exit polling, 92% of Black voters in Pennsylvania supported Joe Biden, while only 7% backed Trump. Only 8 percent of black voters went for President Trump in 2016. 

Trump’s historical record on issues related to race, including past housing discrimination lawsuits and controversial statements, continues to overshadow his outreach efforts.

In 1973, the federal Department of Justice sued Trump and his company for racial discrimination in housing practices, where the real estate baron was found to have systematically denied rental apartments to Black applicants.

In 1989, Trump took out full-page ads calling for the death penalty for five Black and Latino teenagers wrongfully accused of raping a white woman in Central Park.

Even after those innocent defendants were exonerated in 2002, Trump continued to assert their guilt.

Trump promoted the false conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., a claim widely seen as racially motivated and aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the first Black president.

In 2018, Trump allegedly referred to African nations and Haiti as “shithole countries,” a comment condemned as racist and derogatory.

Trump retweeted posts from white nationalist figures, including tweets promoting racist and anti-Black rhetoric, which further fueled concerns about his stance on race relations.

Supporters like former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who had his prison sentence commuted by Trump, argue that the only former president ever convicted of a crime advanced policies that led to economic improvements but the fact is, Republicans cut taxes for billionaires and presided over the highest unemployment since the Great Depression.

Kilpatrick, now an independent, suggested without evidence that recent shifts in the Democratic Party’s stance on race might provide an opportunity for Trump to gain ground among Black voters in Pennsylvania.

The challenges faced by the “Black Voters for Trump” tour highlight the difficulty of overcoming a complex legacy of racial issues. Trump’s attempts to reframe his image and connect with Black voters have yet to show significant results, reflecting the broader struggle of his campaign to address and overcome past controversies.

With the tour’s dismal turnout and mixed reception, it remains to be seen if these efforts will have any substantial impact on the upcoming election.