Former President Donald Trump recently declared to be honored to have the support of Black Lives Matter on Truth Social Wednesday after a co-founder of the organization’s Rhode Island chapter endorsed him on Fox & Friends on Tuesday via Mediaite.
In his post, Trump praised Mark Fisher as a “great guy” and suggested that he had done more for Black people “than any other President” with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.
“Spoke with Mark Fisher yesterday, a great guy, very honored to have his and BLM’s support,” declared Trump. “I have done more for Black people than any other President (Lincoln?), including 10 year funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, where they had none, Opportunity Zones, Criminal Justice Reform, and much more. Thank you to Mark!”
During his TV appearance, Fisher blasted the Democratic Party for its “duplicity” on racial issues and argued that Trump’s critics had not “educated” themselves.
“Personally, I love the man,” said Fisher.
Black Lives Matter has oftentimes been criticized by other Republicans, who have accused the group of inflaming racial tensions, lying about law enforcement, and inspiring a number of violent riots in the months that followed George Floyd’s murder during the last year of Trump’s presidency. In June 2020, Trump himself attacked the group, calling a plan to paint a “Black Lives Matter” sign in New York City a “symbol of hate” that would “further antagonize” police.
In an interview with Fox News later that year, Trump called the group “discriminatory” and mused that “it’s bad for Black people, it’s bad for everybody.”
Mark Esper, who served as Secretary of Defense in Trump’s administration, alleged in his book that the former president suggested that authorities shoot protesters amassed outside of the White House during the summer of 2020.
“Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?” asked Trump, according to Esper.
