Former President Trump courted Black voters in Detroit by highlighting President Biden’s authorship of the 1994 crime bill, which has been a point of contention for decades. Trump emphasized the impact of rising crime rates on African American communities, pointing out the need for protection and police presence. He criticized Biden for the 1994 crime bill, which has been associated with mass incarceration that disproportionately affected Black Americans. Trump’s remarks come as polling suggests an increase in his support among Black voters, with a data analyst on CNN reporting a doubling of Trump’s support to 22% compared to the 2020 election.
Biden’s history of tough-on-crime legislation, including the 1994 crime bill and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, has faced criticism for contributing to America’s high incarceration rates, particularly among Black communities. Biden has since distanced himself from these laws, acknowledging them as mistakes with negative impacts on the Black community. While Trump claimed Biden referred to criminals in the 1990s as “super predators,” it was actually Hillary Clinton who used that term in a speech supporting the 1994 crime bill and later apologized for it.
Trump’s pitch to Black voters in Detroit includes the launch of a Black voter coalition, Black Americans for Trump, ahead of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. The Biden-Harris campaign responded to Trump’s outreach by criticizing the racial makeup of his audience and questioning the sincerity of his “eleventh hour” efforts to appeal to Black voters. The Biden-Harris campaign highlighted Trump’s past comments and actions regarding Black Americans, including racism accusations and disparities in unemployment and uninsured rates.
Black leaders and supporters joined Trump during the roundtable discussion in Detroit, including former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Rep. John James, and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig. The pastor of 180 Church, where the event took place, expressed appreciation for Trump’s visit and acknowledgment of the importance of the Black vote. Trump’s campaign platform includes promises to reinstate his America First policies on immigration, law and order, energy, and the economy to prioritize Black American communities.
Despite Trump’s efforts to appeal to Black voters, polling shows Biden still holds a strong lead over Trump among Black voters overall. Recent polls conducted in key battleground states found Biden leading in most states, with Trump ahead in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. The Biden-Harris campaign remains critical of Trump’s outreach to Black voters, citing past actions and rhetoric as evidence of his lack of genuine concern for the Black community. Ultimately, the 2024 election will test the effectiveness of Trump’s messaging and outreach to this demographic.
