Donald Trump once called Detroit a city that was “totally corrupt” and riddled with crime. Now, the potential Republican presidential nominee has attempted to court its Black voters at an event held there over the weekend.
Trump conducted a roundtable meeting at 180 Church in Detroit on Saturday. Despite it being a Black institution, at least half of the attendees were white. In addition, Trump perpetuated dangerous stereotypes about the city.
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“Look, the crime is most rampant right here and in African American communities,” Trump said. “More people see me and they say, ‘Sir, we want protection. We want police to protect us. We don’t want to get robbed and mugged and beat up or killed because we want to walk across the street to buy a loaf of bread.’”
Michigan may be a key state for Trump in the presidential race. With Biden being less popular with Black voters than in 2020, Trump attempted to capitalize on this. “He’s been the worst president for Black people,” Trump continued on at the church.
Trump stated that Black people are “being hurt” by illegal immigrants and that “They’re invading your jobs.” In addition to the lack of Black people at the church, there appeared to not really be a lot of people in attendance at all. Trump advocate Kellyanne Conway stated there were over 8,000 participants.
However, only a few hundred people could fit in the venue and many pews remained empty. The pastor of 180 Church, Lorenzo Sewell, remained adamant about hosting Trump and thanked him for coming to “the hood.”
Sewell then closed the event with a prayer that commended Trump for raising over $50 million for his campaign after being convicted on 34 felonies. Shortly after his church appearance, Trump gave a speech at the “People’s Convention” of Turning Point Action.
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