Congressional Black Caucus chairman: Trump’s slogan code for ‘make America white again’

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-La.) took aim at President Trump on Thursday for his controversial comments on Haiti and African nations, saying the president’s “Make America Great Again” slogan “is really code for Make America White Again.”

“President Trump’s comments are yet another confirmation of his racially insensitive and ignorant views. It also reinforces concerns that we hear every day, that the President’s slogan Make America Great Again is really code for Make America White Again,” the chairman said in a statement.

Congressional Black Caucus: “The President’s slogan Make America Great Again is really code for Make America White Again.” pic.twitter.com/khcb34VFE6

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 12, 2018

Trump reportedly pushed back against lawmakers in a Thursday meeting when they suggested extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a reprieve from deportation, to immigrants from Haiti and African nations, calling them “shithole countries.”

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Richmond, who has frequently accused Trump of demonstrating ignorance and insensitivity on racial issues, said Thursday that the comments did not come as a surprise to him, despite the widespread bipartisan backlash to them. 

“The sad part is I wasn’t surprised,” Richmond said on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”

The Black Caucus chairman argued that the president’s reported comments Thursday only served as a distraction for his failings on immigration-related issues, including over a deal for a legislative fix for young illegal immigrants that lawmakers met to discuss with the president this week. 

“All of the reservations we have had about negotiating with him are well-founded. President Trump is clearly more concerned with ending the future flow of immigrants from Africa and the African disaspora than providing relief to Dreamers,” Richmond said in his statement.

“Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe that we can negotiate in good faith with a person who holds such vile and reprehensible beliefs,” Richmond added. 

The White House did not deny Trump’s controversial statements on Thursday.