At an event in Jamestown, Virginia Tuesday, President Trump celebrated the contributions African-Americans have to American society: “African Americans have built, strengthened, inspired, uplifted, protected, defended, and sustained our nation.”
But ABC’s World News Tonight and the CBS Evening News instead chose to hype the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus who boycotted the event with Democratic State Delegate Delores McQuinn exclaiming: “We must never allow anyone to dismantle and to erode democracy.”
But neither network mentioned those same Democrats were still working Governor Ralph Northam, who earlier this year was wrapped up in his own racism scandal when medical school photos (likely) showed him in either blackface or a Ku Klux Klan hood. He would later admit that he had worn blackface before while dressing as singer Michael Jackson. Despite public outcry, Northam remains the governor.
After reporting that 80 percent of black voters in a Quinnipiac poll thought Trump was racist, CBS correspondent Errol Barnett suggested: “The President's tone changed at a ceremony here in Jamestown, marking 400 years since the first legislative assembly in America and the arrival of the first enslaved Africans.”
Barnett played a brief soundbite of Trump comments at the event, then touted the Democratic opposition:
BARNETT: His speech interrupted by a protester. Ibrhaheem Samirah is a Democratic delegate to the state's legislature.
IBRAHEEM SAMIRAH: Rhetoric isn't just words. It turns into politics with this president.
BARNETT: In Richmond, the state's legislative black caucus boycotted the president's speech.
DELEGATE DELORES MCQUINN (D): We must never allow anyone to dismantle and to erode democracy.
Meanwhile, ABC’s sensationalist anchor David Muir was appalled Trump was continuing to call out Baltimore. “President Trump ramping up his attacks on Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings and on the city of Baltimore, saying the people there are living in hell.”
ABC completely ignored the President remarks at the event in Virginia and only shared the comments from the Legislative Black Caucus. “Virginia's Legislative Black Caucus boycotted Trump’s speech today, and in a statement, saying, ‘It is impossible to ignore the emblem of hate and disdain that the President represents,’” she said.
Barnett concluded by sharing a ridiculous warning from the hard-left National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. suggesting Trump’s comments “could lead to violence”.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
July 30, 2019
6:39:56 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: President Trump ramping up his attacks on Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings and on the city of Baltimore, saying the people there are living in hell. That's what he said today, adding they're largely African-American and they really appreciate what I'm doing. ABC's Kyra Phillips is live at the White House tonight. And Kyra, the President pushing back against those accusations that he's racist, and here's what he said today.
[Cuts to video]
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I am the least racist person there is anywhere in the world. [Transitions] What I've done for African-Americans in two and a half years, no president has been able to do anything like it.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: And Kyra, the President speaking today at Jamestown, Virginia, commemorating 400 years of representative government here, but a number of lawmakers decided to skip the speech?
KYRA PHILLIPS: That's right, David. Virginia's Legislative Black Caucus boycotted Trump’s speech today, and in a statement, saying, "It is impossible to ignore the emblem of hate and disdain that the President represents."
Now, there was also one state lawmaker, David, of color, who did show up and he took the opportunity to protest, shouting: "Mr. President, you cannot send us back, Virginia is our home." A reference, you'll remember, to the racist chant that broke out at the President's most recent rally in Greenville, North Carolina. David?
MUIR: Kyra Phillips at the White House. Thank you, Kyra.
CBS Evening News
July 30, 2019
6:39:23 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: President Trump's daughter, Ivanka, tweeted her support today for the city of Baltimore. She said, "I encourage everyone to advance smart policy and/or support organizations that uplift the great people of “Charm City'." She did not condemn the President's attacks on the city and its Congressman, and Mr. Trump continued those attacks today. Here is Errol Barnett.
[Cuts to video]
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I am the least racist person there is anywhere in the world.
ERROL BARNETT: Today, President Trump denied his attacks on Congressman Elijah Cummings as anything to do with race, even as he continued to assault the majority-black district Cummings represents.
TRUMP: Those people are living in hell in Baltimore.
BARNETT: Mr. Trump also said he's heard from black Americans who are grateful for his comments.
TRUMP: But if you look at what I've done for African Americans, it's more than almost all presidents.
BARNETT: But a new Quinnipiac poll out today said finds 80 percent of black voters think the President is racist, and a slim majority of all voters agree.
TRUMP: We were every sacred soul.
BARNETT: The President's tone changed at a ceremony here in Jamestown, marking 400 years since the first legislative assembly in America and the arrival of the first enslaved Africans.
TRUMP: African Americans have built, strengthened, inspired, uplifted, protected, defended, and sustained our nation.
BARNETT: His speech interrupted by a protester. Ibrhaheem Samirah is a Democratic delegate to the state's legislature.
IBRAHEEM SAMIRAH: Rhetoric isn't just words. It turns into politics with this president.
BARNETT: In Richmond, the state's legislative black caucus boycotted the president's speech.
DELORES MCQUINN (D) (VA State delegate): We must never allow anyone to dismantle and to erode democracy.
[Cuts back to live]
BARNETT: Now, the clergy of Washington's National Cathedral, known for bringing factions together, rebuked President Trump's rhetoric today. In a statement titled, "Have we no decency" they warned the President's words are dangerous, and, Norah, they say it could lead to violence.
O’DONNELL: Errol Barnett, thank you.
