‘Are They Friends Of Yours?’: Trump Asks Reporter of Color if She Knows Congressional Black Caucus
Today during a press conference that appeared to be an hour-long rant against the media, Donald Trump fielded a question from April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks about his plans for inner cities, which he campaigned on a platform of fixing.
She asked what his “urban agenda” was and when he responded that she should wait until he releases an executive order, she followed up by asking him if he planned to involve the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. (Well, first she asked if he’d meet with the CBC, but had to break down the acronym after Trump asked her who she was talking about.)
“Do you want to set up the meeting?” he asked repeatedly.
“No, no, no; I’m just a reporter,” she said.
“Are they friends of yours?” he pressed.
He went on to say he thinks the Congressional Black Congress is “great” and he’d love to meet them. (Note that they’ve claimed they’ve offered to meet with him and he has not yet agreed.)
There you go. Trump asked a black reporter if she is friends with members of the CBC. Aside from how unethical it would be for a reporter to be friends with and make meeting plans on behalf of an elected official, the assumption that she must know all the black politicians is stereotypical and, according to the following responses on Facebook, offensive.
@pdacosta @AdamSerwer cuz all black people know each other. I’m surprised he didn’t think she was a different black person he knows. #racist
— Tim Richards (@timottr) February 16, 2017
a shout out to April Ryan for putting up the crap she has to tolerate just to do her job
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) February 16, 2017
@JoyAnnReid “Are they friends of yours?” #unreal
— Paul Lang (@ACasaNYC) February 16, 2017
@maggieNYT @AprilDRyan How many scandal moments can he squeeze into one press conference? Bannon will never let him out again.
— Dylan Malone (@dylanmalone) February 16, 2017
I wonder if April Ryan can set up a meeting with Beyoncé ?
— marshy (@sirmarshy) February 16, 2017
@YNB He did! And every Black person is trapped in the “inner city”, too, apparently. #IsThisRealLife?
— Liza (@zealousidler) February 16, 2017
April Ryan had to say Congressional Black Caucus after she said “CBC” because Trump clearly didn’t recognize the acronym
— Ivie Okechukwu Ani (@ivieani) February 16, 2017
Did the imbecile ask a black woman reporter to set up a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus?
Yes, yes, the imbecile did.— Rabih Alameddine (@rabihalameddine) February 16, 2017
“I’m super not-racist and I’ll prove it by asking the first black person I encounter if she’s friends with the Congressional Black Caucus.”
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) February 16, 2017
smh why hasn’t a single black reporter in all of media set up a meeting between trump and the congressional black caucus yet
— Greg Howard (@greghoward88) February 16, 2017
Did Trump (the least racist person ever) just ask a black reporter asking about the Congressional Black Caucus: “Are they friends of yours?”
— donnell johnson (@dojohouse) February 16, 2017
A black reporter asks Trump if he’ll meet with the Congressional Black Caucus.
Trump responds: “Are they friends of yours?”
This happened.
— Emily Atkin (@emorwee) February 16, 2017
@JakeSherman OMG my jaw literally dropped. All black people are buddies, right?
— Jo Champlin (@kittymulroy) February 16, 2017
When he asked April Ryan are you friend with the CBC #TrumpPressConference pic.twitter.com/wThSaeuuvR
— DKT (@darleneturner53) February 16, 2017
UPDATE – 3:06 P.M. EST: The Congressional Black Caucus noticed Trump’s remarks, and they had this to say:
Hi, @realDonaldTrump. We’re the CBC. We sent you a letter on January 19, but you never wrote us back. Sad! Letter: https://t.co/58KiuHmITF
— The CBC (@OfficialCBC) February 16, 2017
[image via screengrab]
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