“Illegal aliens are pouring in and they’re taking your jobs,” said former President Donald Trump Saturday during an event at Detroit’s 180 Church. “The Black community is being hurt more by the illegal aliens – 16, 17 million – they’re taking your jobs.”
During the invitation-only event at the predominantly Black church, Trump also claimed that he was the best president for Black Americans, economically, and criticized current President Joe Biden.
Trump often slams the president’s border policy and makes claims about the impact of illegal immigration. At the same time, some reports – including this one from the Center for Public Integrity – indicate that the nation’s economy depends on a growing immigrant workforce.
According to a CNN Fact Check: “Trump’s claims about having achieved the lowest Black unemployment rate and poverty rate ever recorded were true when he made them before Biden took office, but they are not true today. Both of the record lows set during Trump’s presidency were surpassed by new record lows during Biden’s presidency.”
Last month, a brief from the White House said: “he sustained strong labor market during this time [Biden’s presidency] led to sizable benefits for middle class workers, and historically strong outcomes for Black Americans.” It also said that from September 2022 to February 2024, the Black unemployment rate remained at or below 6% for the longest period on record and that in April 2023, the unemployment rate for Black workers dropped to 4.8%, a record low.
“The latest data shows that unemployment rate for Black workers was 5.6% in April 2024 continuing the trend of low unemployment rate for this group by historical standards,” said the White House. “For context, the average unemployment rate for Black Americans was about 8 percent from 2016 to 2020 and 11 percent from 2000 to 2015.”
However, high inflation and interest rates have stressed Americans economically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with that pressure, results from a USA TODAY/Suffolk University exclusive poll released Sunday indicate that Black voters still support the Democratic president.
“The poll, of Black voters in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan, found that Biden is still the first or second choice of the vast majority, while most would avoid Trump,” said USA Today. Per the outlet, “Trump said his campaign is making inroads with the Black community. But polls… don’t provide support for that argument.”
According to USA Today, Black voters said they would cast ballots for third party candidates like Cornel West or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before voting for Trump.
WWJ reported last week that Trump – the GOP’s presumptive presidential candidate – was in town speak at The People’s Convention at Huntington Place, a three-day event from Friday to Sunday hosted by the conservative organization Turning Point Action. Others scheduled to speak at that event were former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Detroit’s Dr. Ben Carson, Candace Owens, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and more.
Trump previously vetoed Michigan in May.