Former President Donald Trump recently proclaimed that he believes every Black voter should support him, citing his contributions to their community as unparalleled. This assertion came on the heels of his Super Tuesday triumph and following the withdrawal of his sole competitor, setting him up as the probable Republican candidate for the presidency.
At a “Get out the Vote Rally” on March 9, Trump made this bold declaration as part of his campaign rhetoric leading up to the general election, a statement that has since been widely criticized. Critics were quick to challenge Trump’s claims, pointing out inconsistencies and historical inaccuracies. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), users expressed their skepticism and disapproval, Rolling Stone reported.
One user highlighted Trump’s adverse impact on hate crimes and racism, while another recalled his unfounded claim of being knighted by Queen Elizabeth shortly after her death. Journalist Victoria Brownworth also weighed in, reminding readers of Trump’s controversial stance on the Central Park Five, a group of teenagers of color who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated.
“I did more for Black people than any president other than Abraham Lincoln. It’s true. It’s true,” Trump claimed in the speech. “I did more than any president other than Abraham Lincoln. Think of it: criminal justice reform. I took care of the Black colleges and universities.”
Trump’s claim of being the most beneficial president to the Black community since Abraham Lincoln was met with skepticism by historians who cite Lyndon B. Johnson’s landmark legislation—the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964—as having a more significant impact on African American lives. These acts are seen as pivotal moments in American history, contributing to the advancement of civil rights and voting rights for Black Americans, as The Washington Post noted at the time.
Furthermore, Trump’s assertion of initiating bipartisan legislation that permanently allocated $255 million in annual STEM funding for minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was also questioned. His administration’s record on supporting HBCUs has been described as mixed, with some noting that while there were some positive steps, the overall impact was not as substantial as claimed.
Historians like H.W. Brands from the University of Texas at Austin and David Greenberg from Rutgers University have refuted Trump’s claims, emphasizing the transformative nature of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act signed into law by Johnson. These scholars argue that Trump’s contributions, when compared to those of past presidents, do not warrant the level of acclaim he claims, highlighting the importance of understanding the historical context of civil rights advancements in America.
