Trump Ally Byron Donalds Confronted at Town Hall With Story About Racist Trump Fan
Prominent Trump ally Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was confronted at a town hall by a constituent who claimed a racist Trump fan told him he wouldn’t vote for Donalds because he’s Black — and used the anecdote to press him about President Donald Trump’s assault on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Donalds held a town hall meeting in Estero Monday night that grew more raucous as it went on, with jeering and protests disrupting the event and pro-Donalds attendees heckling others.
One attendee told Donalds a story about overhearing a Trump fan saying he wouldn’t vote for Donalds because of his race — strongly suggesting the man used a racial slur — and asked what Donalds would say to a “young Black man” who has lost opportunities because of that attitude.
Another attendee heckled the man, calling the scenario “made-up,” but Donalds told him not to worry about it, and continued with his response:
CONSTITUENT: Not to be controversial, but let’s jump into media, shall we? I overheard a Trump-supporting man announce loudly, in very inappropriate terms, that he would never vote for Byron Donalds before Donalds has said a word, and in spite of the endorsement from President Trump.
He has lost his vote because of his race alone. What would Donalds say to a young Black man who hasn’t lost a vote yet, but who has lost jobs, to make most professional associations, etc. because of their race? Isn’t there some value to programs that seek to provide opportunities for everyone?
(CHEERS)
OTHER CONSTITUENT: That’s a gotcha question! That’s made-up!
REP. BYRON DONALDS: That’s fine. It’s fine, if you do this long enough, don’t worry about it.
OTHER CONSTITUENT: It’s made-up!
DONALDS: Here’s the deal. So I’m 46, obviously I’m a member of Congress now. Before Congress I was in finance. So I–.
(INAUDIBLE DISRUPTION)
No, no no no, we’re not going to do that. We’re not gonna do that! We’re not gonna do that.
When I was coming up at corporate America at the time–.
We had diversity– (INAUDIBLE) everybody agreed with diversity, I agree with diversity. That makes total sense.
The issue with DEI is not diversity, it’s equity. (APPLAUSE).
You cannot have a system that is based on a difference. You can have a cohesive, harmonious culture around diversity. I think we all celebrate diversity. I think we all do.
Watch above via Rep. Byron Donalds.
