What is a “Black job?” At Thursday’s presidential debate, Donald Trump claimed they were being taken away by immigrants—but no one knows what he’s talking about.
“The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he’s allowed to come in through the border,” Trump said. “They’re taking Black jobs now—and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people. 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.”
On Twitter, the comments immediately drew backlash, as well as some jokes.
i want him to have to explain what exactly he means by “black jobs” and “hispanic jobs” pic.twitter.com/j2I5UZhMYx
— little miss loose cannon (@reesecorrigan) June 28, 2024
Black politicians were quick to point out what they do for a living.
Hello from my office at my Black job! pic.twitter.com/KxoBddgCQy
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) June 28, 2024
Me walking into my “Black job” tomorrow pic.twitter.com/kKQ0BxBxj3
— Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) June 28, 2024
As one of less than 60 black women to swear into 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! I’ll show up & fight MAGA’s BS on their behalf…
— Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) June 28, 2024
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison expressed incredulity Thursday night, but got into a more positive spirit Friday morning.
BlackPAC, a 527 organization seeking to “harness the political power of Black Americans,” also added some humor to the conversation.
Well, now that the debate is over. Time for us all to get ready for bed so we can be on time to our #BlackJobs tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/tPFSWdWqoI
— BlackPAC (@voteblackpac) June 28, 2024
If the former president and convicted felon thinks that these remarks will help gain Black voters, his record undercuts his efforts, whether it’s his vow to fight “anti-white” racism, his pledge to “indemnify all police officers and law enforcement officials” if he’s reelected, or his attacks on Black prosecutors.
Even before becoming president, Trump faced accusations of racism over the housing discrimination lawsuit he and his father faced in the 1970s. There was also his time on NBC’s The Apprentice where, behind the scenes, Trump allegedly dropped the n-word and refused to hire Kwame Jackson, the Black finalist on the show’s first season.
