Former President Donald Trump sparked confusion and shock among debate viewers on Thursday when he referred to “Black jobs” while he criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee claimed that his opponent’s “big kill on the Black people” was allowing “millions” of people to enter America via the border.
“They’re taking Black jobs now and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people,” Trump said.
“They’re taking Black jobs and they’re taking Hispanic jobs and you haven’t seen it yet but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in our history,” he added.
Trump’s evidence-free, false claim didn’t sit well with Black lawmakers such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who noted that she’s one of less than 60 Black women who have been sworn in to Congress.
“I’m assuming Trump doesn’t think my job is a ‘black job,’ but MY BLACK TAIL will be up early to do the work of my amazing & beautiful coalition of people that make up TX-30!” Crockett wrote of her district on X, formerly Twitter.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also posted on X to question Trump, writing, “I still don’t understand the ‘black job’ comment, it would have been nice if there was a follow up to understand what he was trying to say.”
Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC, told Reuters that Trump’s comment sparked “a hilarious meme all across Black Twitter” and it showed him failing to connect with Black voters.
“That there are specific Black jobs for Black people that immigrants are coming to take. Utter nonsense,” she said.
You can check out more reactions to Trump’s comment below.