This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/us/politics/trump-black-history-douglass.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump’s Black History Talk: From Douglass to Media Bias and Crime Trump’s Black History Talk: From Douglass to Media Bias and Crime
(35 minutes later)
In an event with black supporters billed as an “African-American History Month listening session,” President Trump on Wednesday veered into some of his preferred topics, including crime and media bias.In an event with black supporters billed as an “African-American History Month listening session,” President Trump on Wednesday veered into some of his preferred topics, including crime and media bias.
Kicking off the session in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, Mr. Trump promised to “honor the tremendous history of the African-Americans throughout our country.” A full transcript of the president’s remarks was provided by the White House.Kicking off the session in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, Mr. Trump promised to “honor the tremendous history of the African-Americans throughout our country.” A full transcript of the president’s remarks was provided by the White House.
The president mentioned the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. early in his remarks, saying that his “incredible example is unique in American history.”The president mentioned the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. early in his remarks, saying that his “incredible example is unique in American history.”
He then quickly turned to an earlier grievance, what he called “fake news,” citing the mistaken pool report that Dr. King’s bust had been removed from the Oval Office, a topic that received considerable attention in the days after the inauguration. Mr. Trump told the group: He then quickly turned to an earlier grievance, what he called “fake news,” citing the mistaken and quickly corrected pool report that Dr. King’s bust had been removed from the Oval Office, a topic that received considerable attention in the days after the inauguration. Mr. Trump told the group:
Mr. Trump also made a special mention of Frederick Douglass, which caused critics to conclude that he believed the iconic abolitionist, writer and speaker was still alive. Douglass died in 1895. Mr. Trump spoke of him in the present tense: Mr. Trump, who was seated next to his Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee, Ben Carson, also made a special mention of Frederick Douglass, which caused critics to conclude that he believed the iconic abolitionist, writer and speaker was still alive. Douglass died in 1895. Mr. Trump spoke of him in the present tense:
The president also repeated claims that American communities are not safe:The president also repeated claims that American communities are not safe:
Recent F.B.I. data indicates that crime rates have been dropping for decades, despite a slight uptick in violent crimes in 2015 that was mostly concentrated in urban areas, including Chicago, which Mr. Trump referred to as “totally out of control.”Recent F.B.I. data indicates that crime rates have been dropping for decades, despite a slight uptick in violent crimes in 2015 that was mostly concentrated in urban areas, including Chicago, which Mr. Trump referred to as “totally out of control.”
Mr. Trump also took the opportunity to call the news media “the opposition party,” something his chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, had said in an interview with The Times.Mr. Trump also took the opportunity to call the news media “the opposition party,” something his chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, had said in an interview with The Times.
Mr. Trump told the group:Mr. Trump told the group:
At other points Mr. Trump thanked Fox News for treating him “very nice” and insinuated that CNN was “fake news.”At other points Mr. Trump thanked Fox News for treating him “very nice” and insinuated that CNN was “fake news.”
The group included more than a dozen people who introduced themselves briefly. They included a pastor and his wife, a former Capitol police officer, a defense employee, and an official with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, among others. Also on hand were members of Mr. Trump’s staff, including Omarosa Manigault, a contestant from his programs “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice.” She has been named director of communications for his Office of Public Liaison.The group included more than a dozen people who introduced themselves briefly. They included a pastor and his wife, a former Capitol police officer, a defense employee, and an official with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, among others. Also on hand were members of Mr. Trump’s staff, including Omarosa Manigault, a contestant from his programs “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice.” She has been named director of communications for his Office of Public Liaison.
“Omarosa is actually a very nice person,” Mr. Trump joked, prompting laughter. “Nobody knows that but I don’t want to destroy her reputation.”“Omarosa is actually a very nice person,” Mr. Trump joked, prompting laughter. “Nobody knows that but I don’t want to destroy her reputation.”
Social media reactions to the president’s comments were swift, with many questioning his commitment to celebrating Black History Month.Social media reactions to the president’s comments were swift, with many questioning his commitment to celebrating Black History Month.
More broadly, critics pointed out that Mr. Trump has a checkered history in the area of race relations, from his comments about the five black and Latino teenagers who were falsely accused and later exonerated of raping a white woman in Central Park in 1989, to his recent Twitter spat with Representative John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat and civil rights leader.More broadly, critics pointed out that Mr. Trump has a checkered history in the area of race relations, from his comments about the five black and Latino teenagers who were falsely accused and later exonerated of raping a white woman in Central Park in 1989, to his recent Twitter spat with Representative John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat and civil rights leader.
Last month, after Mr. Lewis called Mr. Trump an “illegitimate president,” Mr. Trump criticized the civil rights leader as being “all talk, talk, talk – no actions or results. Sad!” He later tried to defuse the angry reaction by meeting with Dr. King’s eldest son.Last month, after Mr. Lewis called Mr. Trump an “illegitimate president,” Mr. Trump criticized the civil rights leader as being “all talk, talk, talk – no actions or results. Sad!” He later tried to defuse the angry reaction by meeting with Dr. King’s eldest son.