The Most Disappointing Black Political Sellouts—Ever

From Kanye to Candace Owens, here are the political sellouts doing the most.

We all know that Black folks don’t think alike. However, marginalized communities have it rougher than white folks so their political interests should lie in equality and leveling the playing field. But as we know, that’s not always the case.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Meet Tiffanie Barriere: The Drinking Coach Making History at the NYSE

As Republicans continue to uplift MAGA idealism—which includes white supremacy, xenophobia, control over women’s bodies and capitalism—some Black folks still don’t understand what’s at stake by supporting the GOP. Here are some of the biggest political sellouts and letdowns.

Herschel Walker

Photo: Getty Images Alex Wong

Not only is he a complete buffoon, Herschel Walker is one of the most hypocritical Black conservatives ever. Though he branded himself as a Christian father and husband during his Georgia senate run, multiple women said the ex-football star funded their abortions. Walker also has a history of abusing women and reportedly stole money from his own campaign. He also called Black homes fatherless, denied climate change and lied about his education.

Kanye West

Photo: Getty Images Justin Shin

Kanye West has truly been a huge disappointment. He has declared that “White Lives Matter,” publicly supported Donald Trump and made antisemitic statements that have led to the undoing of his career. West’s 2020 presidential campaign was a shit show in every meaning of the word. The rapper has also stated that he “loves the way Candace Owens thinks” and infamously that slavery was a choice. West has also made several antisemitic remarks.

Tim Scott

Photo: Getty Images Christian Monterrosa

Tim Scott is tried—and failed—to convince the masses to make him the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. He campaigned on the premise that “America isn’t a racist country” (and using his own professional success as evidence of this) and that welfare was worse for Black folks than slavery was. Once he dropped out of the race, Scott quickly endorsed Trump for President and said that he loved him. Ew.

Harrison Floyd

Screenshot: Fox 5 Atlanta

Harrison Floyd, the former director of Black Voices for Trump, is one of the former president’s co-defendants in Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ election interference case. In addition to the Georgia charges, Floyd is facing charges for allegedly aggressively confronting two FBI agents sent to serve him with a grand jury subpoena. Though he is out on bond, Floyd sadly remains a staunch Trump supporter.

Candace Owens

Photo: Getty Images Jason Davis

Candace Owens hosts a podcast for the Daily Wire and is known for uplifting white supremacist ideology. She constantly disparages Black people regardless of the platform, whether it’s insulting Black women rappers, the Black Lives Matter movement a scam, said George Floyd died from a drug overdose and still supports Trump. She truly is the worst.

Azealia Banks

Photo: Getty Images Lexie Moreland

Azealia Banks is known for her outlandish commentary and beefing with just about everybody. However, her political alignment is not a joke. Not only was she a Trump supporter back in 2016, but Banks reaffirmed her support for him just last year. Her reasoning is that Trump would vehemently protect the second amendment and is “funny.”

Jason Whitlock

Photo: Variety

The Fearless with Jason Whitlock host has always spouted hateful rhetoric. He has infamously said that the worst thing someone can be in our current cultural climate is a “heterosexual Christian male,” called transgender people “satanic,” and says he’s hardcore MAGA. The sports journalist turned right-wing fanatic has insisted rappers are part of Satan’s army. Whitlock uses religious beliefs to wrongfully attack others—and was recently called out by Stephen A. Smith for his antics.

Sage Steele

Photo: Getty Images Greg Doherty

The ex-ESPN anchor is a notorious anti-vaxxer, says she“respects the hell” out of Candace Owens and insisted that Barack Obama isn’t really Black because “his Black dad was nowhere to be found.” Sage Steele is also a passionate Trump supporter and has said that white people have been the least racist to her—even though she let UFC fighter Chael Sonnen pull her hair on national television to prove that it was real. She truly is an embarassment.

Clarence Thomas

Photo: Getty Images Drew Angerer

The infamous conservative Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual misconduct by Anita Hill and helped overturn Roe v. Wade in addition to affirmative action as it pertains to college admissions. Thomas has allegedly taken extravagant gifts from wealthy white benefactors and his wife, Ginni, worked diligently—and illegally—to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Sexyy Red

Photo: Getty Images Scott Dudelson

Not that folks are looking to Sexyy Red for political commentary, but the “Pound Town” rapper made headlines when she went on a conservative podcast to cape for Trump. “I like Trump,” the rapper, whose real name is Janae Wherry, told podcast host Theo Von on “This Past Weekend.” Sexyy also said that the hood supports him because he gave them stimulus checks. It’s factually inaccurate and the emcee does not speak for all Black people.

Mark Ponder

Screenshot: The Independent

Mark Ponder was gullible enough to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6 with other Trump supporters and thought he could get away with it. In reality, he was sentenced to 63 months in prison after he attacked several police officers with a weapon during the Capitol riot. Ponder pleaded guilty to felony assault and received the longest punishment in relation to the violent event.

Daniel Cameron

Photo: Getty Images Jon Cherry

Daniel Cameron is the Trump-backed Republican State Attorney who will throw Black people under the bus if it means getting ahead. The Louisville NAACP had previously called for Cameron’s immediate resignation “for failing to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.” Cameron did not charge the four officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor during a botched-no knock warrant attempt in March of 2020. He is also against gun control and pro-life (except in cases of rape and incest).

Harris Faulkner

Photo: Getty Images Terry Wyatt

Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner has ignorantly criticized Black Lives Matter by bringing up cities like Chicago, killings of children and the need to protest “Black-on-Black crime.” Faulker has also stated President Biden “hates at least half” of Americans and had the nerve to claim that immigrants “make our country look like what they left.” Faulker wants to be taken seriously, but her first mistake was agreeing to be on Fox News in the first place.

Eric Johnson

Photo: Dallas Observer

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson changed his political party from Democrat to Republican. For nine years, Johnson served in the Texas Legislature as a Democrat before becoming mayor in 2019. During his time in office, he has fostered a strong relationship with Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia. In an op-ed, Johnson wrote that Democratic policies “exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living.” He is currently going through a messy divorce with wife Nakita Johnson who accused him of having an affair.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

A Peek Inside NBA Star Anthony Davis' $40 Million Bel-Air Mansion

A Peek Inside NBA Star Anthony Davis’ $40 Million Bel-Air Mansion

We’re taking a look inside the sprawling 8-bedroom Bel-Air estate of NBA player Anthony Davis …
15 Times Stephen A. Smith Disappointed Black Folks

15 Times Stephen A. Smith Disappointed Black Folks

Before Stephen A. Smith gets serious about a potential 2028 presidential run, he still has to answer for these shocking and disappointing incidents …
The Truth Behind This Viral Meme King Might Surprise You

The Truth Behind This Viral Meme King Might Surprise You

Michael Seals– once a professional boxer– is taking the internet by storm, but how well do you know him? …
America's Birth Rate Is Shifting Toward a Minority Majority  and Now Things Are Starting to Make Sense

America’s Birth Rate Is Shifting Toward a Minority Majority and Now Things Are Starting to Make Sense

White births have fallen below 50 percent for the first time in U.S. history. The milestone comes with a striking irony as the Trump administration’s policies target the women who are driving the nation’s growth …
How Trump Now Targeting Cuba Can Be More Detrimental than You Think

How Trump Now Targeting Cuba Can Be More Detrimental than You Think

The Trump administration has shut off oil flow to Cuba in an attempt to put pressure on the communist country to make some significant political changes …
Exclusive: The Honey Pot Co. CEO Beatrice Dixon Shares Her Ancestral Recipe for Empire Building in New Memoir

Exclusive: The Honey Pot Co. CEO Beatrice Dixon Shares Her Ancestral Recipe for Empire Building in New Memoir

The Root spoke with The Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon about her inspiring new memoir …
Rapper Lil Jon Break Silence After His Son's Tragic Death

Rapper Lil Jon Break Silence After His Son’s Tragic Death

Lil Jon spoke out earlier this month about the death of his son and now he’s sharing his reflections and an update with his fans …
Oklahoma Cop Caught Beating a Black Man on Video—But Police Chief Says It's Not What It Looks Like

Oklahoma Cop Caught Beating a Black Man on Video—But Police Chief Says It’s Not What It Looks Like

After a clip of a Black man being punched in the head by an Oklahoma cop went viral, the police chief is speaking out, and what he says may shock you …
Not McSteamy! Why Black Women Are a Mess Over Eric Dane's Death

Not McSteamy! Why Black Women Are a Mess Over Eric Dane’s Death

Black women are taking to social media to share their grief over “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane …
Inside the Wild $1 Million Designer Clothes Heist Allegedly Staged by a Black Fashion Model and His Crew

Inside the Wild $1 Million Designer Clothes Heist Allegedly Staged by a Black Fashion Model and His Crew

A $1 million designer heist, disguises and a balcony getaway: Police finally have a suspect in the cinematic robbery of SoHo’s 4Gseller boutique …
Was Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights' Really Black?

Was Heathcliff in ‘Wuthering Heights’ Really Black?

Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the infamous Heathcliff in the new ‘Wuthering Heights’ movie has fans speaking out about the character’s alleged Black origins and Hollywood’s whitewashing …
How this New Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs Is Great News for Black Consumers Badly Hit by Trump's Economic Policy

How this New Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs Is Great News for Black Consumers Badly Hit by Trump’s Economic Policy

After the Supreme Court ruled against Trump’s blanket tariff policy, Black consumers– the most impacted Americans– are picking up the pieces …
Naomi Campbell is In the Epstein Files Hundreds of Times -- Here's Her Response to That

Naomi Campbell is In the Epstein Files Hundreds of Times — Here’s Her Response to That

Supermodel Naomi Campbell’s name appeared in nearly 300 documents of the Epstein Files. And now, she’s speaking out about it! …
Trump Calls Out Obama For Talking About Aliens...Only to, Um, Do This

Trump Calls Out Obama For Talking About Aliens…Only to, Um, Do This

Donald Trump calls out Obama for making a “big mistake” by talking about aliens… but then decides to release government files on UFOs …
Inside Frederick Douglass' Final Home in DC

Inside Frederick Douglass’ Final Home in DC

Take a peek inside the home of one of the greatest African American men in history, Frederick Douglass …
Why <i>That</i> Pepsi Incident From Over 40 Years Ago is Blamed for Michael Jackson's Downfall

Why That Pepsi Incident From Over 40 Years Ago is Blamed for Michael Jackson’s Downfall

TMZ’s new documentary takes a deeper look at Michael Jackson’s infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial fire and the possible link it had to his demise years later …
Who NYT Says Is Facing the Biggest Fallout From The Epstein Files

Who NYT Says Is Facing the Biggest Fallout From The Epstein Files

The New York Times is tracking and documenting the names of those caught up in the fallout of the Epstein Files. Here are the ones you should know …
Activist Ms. Shirley's Cause of Death FINALLY Revealed

Activist Ms. Shirley’s Cause of Death FINALLY Revealed

News of Ms. Shirley’s cause of death comes in the middle of American Heart Month, the February initiative raising awareness about cardiovascular disease …
Former Prince Andrew in Cuffs: Is This the Official End of White Privilege?

Former Prince Andrew in Cuffs: Is This the Official End of White Privilege?

Prince Andrew is the first notable figure arrested after the Epstein files were released, and the potential fallout is probably lot worse than you think …
Tyra Banks Is 'ANTM's' Biggest Villain, But Jay, Miss J and Nigel Need to Be Called Out

Tyra Banks Is ‘ANTM’s’ Biggest Villain, But Jay, Miss J and Nigel Need to Be Called Out

America’s Next Top Model judges Miss J, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker all played a role in the show’s unhealthy ecosystem, and they should be called out, too! …