Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump fails to correct Republican consultant who accused cable hosts of killing more black people than KKK

GOP consultant falsely says cable hosts guilty of 'killing more black folks than any white person with a sheet ever their face'

John T. Bennett
Washington Bureau Chief
Wednesday 10 June 2020 22:17 BST
Comments
Trump supporter Raynard Jackson accuses black journalists of killing more people than the KKK_1.mp4

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Republican consultant, while sitting a few feet from a silent Donald Trump, on Wednesday incorrectly accused two black journalists of killing more African Americans than the Ku Klux Klan.

Raynard Jackson, during a White House event on race relations, was in the middle of slamming media outlets and journalists when he singled out CNN's Don Lemon and MSNBC's Joy Reid. Like Mr Jackson, both cable news hosts are black.

Mr Jackson accused the duo of "putting more poison into the black community than any drug dealer."

He also contended, without any evidence, that Mr Lemon and Ms Reid are guilty of "killing more black folks than any white person with a sheet ever their face."

He appeared to be claiming both television personalities have appeared on air and not, in his view, given factual information or opinions about the black community and policies that would affect it.

Mr Trump sat a few seats to Mr Jackson's left. He made no attempt to correct him.

The KKK killed thousands of black Americans as it orchestrated years of terror, especially in the Deep South.

As the event neared a close, Mr Trump joined Mr Jackson by contending the media almost always writes negative stories about him and his presidency.

He trails Joe Biden by double digits nationally in his bid to secure a second four-year term, and behind in several key swing states. A few others that have long been GOP strongholds – Texas, Georgia and Ohio – appear to be dead heats five months before Election Day.

"The president is in big trouble," one Republican strategist said Wednesday. "There's no doubt about it."

Mr Jackson might have been trying to goad CNN and MSNBC to book him as a guest, saying: "What are you afraid to have real black Republicans [on] who know what the hell they're talking about?

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in