President Donald Trump hosted a reception honoring Black History Month only weeks after ordering the end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in government.
Trump was joined by champion golfer Tiger Woods, received praise from Black public figures and applause from hundreds of guests while his executive order has stopped the celebration in other forms.
‘We proudly celebrate Black History Month,’ said Trump, welcoming attendees to the East Room of the White House on Thursday afternoon.
‘Today, we pay tribute to the generations of Black legends, champions, warriors and patriots who helped drive our country forward to greatness. And you really are great, great people.’
Trump announced that a national garden of American heroes he has proposed will include famed late Black heroes including Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Billie Holiday, Brooker T Washington, Aretha Franklin, Frederick Douglass, Loretta Scott King, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr, Muhammad Ali and Kobe Bryant.
‘We’re gonna save Tiger Woods for another time,’ joked Trump, explaining that he would be the only one still alive.
Trump said they are being honored ‘not simply because they’re Black heroes but because they are truly American heroes who inspire us very much so’.
The president, who made no mention of his actions to rolling back DEI, ran through points in American history when Blacks attained rights including suffrage.
‘I’m proud to say that we received, listen to this, more votes from Black Americans than any Republican president ever. Almost 40% of the vote – now I wont be happy the next time,’ Trump said. ‘Should I run again? You tell me.’
Cheers erupted and the crowd chanted: ‘Four more years!’
‘There’s your controversy right there, there’s your controversy,’ Trump said.
‘You’re gonna see that tonight on television.’
Trump also accused the Biden administration of trying to reduce American history to just 1619, the year that African slavery began in the British colonies that became the US.
‘Under our administration, we honor the indispensable role black Americans have always played in the immortal cause of another day, 1776,’ he said, referring to when Congress issued the Declaration of Independence.
‘We like 1776.’
Trump was surrounded by Black figures who have supported and helped him return to the White House.
Podcast host and entrepreneur David Harris Jr reiterated a belief that Trump made on his campaign trail.
‘I know God has chose you, he anointed you for this position. He kept you alive so you could be here today,’ said Harris.
‘And we pray for that, we pray for you, we continue to pray for you.’
Trump has labeled DEI programs ‘discrimination’. His orders are eliminating diversity programs in the federal government and have pressured private companies to ditch DEI for merit-based hiring.
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