Former President Donald Trump recently spoke about prominent Black supporter Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and said “That one is smart!” and added “You have smart ones” without specifying what the “ones” were via Mediaite.
It has been noted that Trump hit the campaign trail this week with several rallies and events, including a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania Friday night. A regular feature of Trump rallies is the appearance of guest speakers, most of whom serve as opening acts for the main event. Donalds has filled that role consistently, including in Johnstown. Donalds spoke after Trump adviser and attorney Alina Habba.
During the main event, Trump highlighted name-checking Donalds in the crowd, recognizing him as “a smart one” in a scene reminiscent of Trump’s infamous “my African American” line several years ago:
He immediately. The first thing he did was approve the Nord Stream pipeline. And then they’d say– Mr. Congress. Oh, look, we have!
Byron set up please. Superstar of the future! He’s already a superstar, but he’s a superstar of the future! Byron Donalds, Florida.
Wow, that’s nice to have you here! That’s good. He’s great. He’s good. He knows exactly what I’m talking about. That one is smart!
You have smart ones and you have some that aren’t quite so good.
But we have a group of people that are really great. But. So I stopped Nord Stream two, stopped it cold wasn’t going to happen. This guy comes in, he approves it. Then they say, oh, Trump was nice to Russia.
In 2016, Trump famously referred to Gregory Cheadle as “My African American” during a rally. In his 2024 campaign, Trump has faced criticism for making comments that are seen as reinforcing anti-Black stereotypes. Trump and his supporters have focused on the idea that Black people can relate to him because of his criminal convictions.
