(L-R) Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson speaks with Donald Trump on the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Source: Leon Neal / Getty
A social media post that provides a list of loyal Black Trump supporters who have shamelessly fawned over the president-elect has gone viral as the number of people being nominated for senior-level presidential administration positions continues to grow without any inclusion of African Americans.
The spotlight on the glaring exclusion of Black people among Donald Trump’s nominees grew even brighter on Tuesday after WWE executive Linda McMahon was tapped to lead the U.S. Department of Education and TV personality Mehmet Oz, better known as “Dr. Oz,” was selected for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
They join a group of people who critics say are equally as unqualified for their prospective positions, including Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was the subject of a bipartisan House investigation into credible allegations of pedophilia.
That, of course, is not to say that any of the Black people who were “shucking and jiving” on the campaign trail while defending Trump from valid accusations of anti-Black racism are qualified to serve in a presidential cabinet. But Trump routinely said he would reward his most loyal supporters with cabinet and senior-level roles within his administration, and thus far that apparent equation does not include any Black people.
It’s a conspicuous omission considering the lengths that Trump and Republicans went to secure a historic level of support from Black voters who might like to see their representation reflected in the upcoming presidential administration.
Trump has said that he will conclude making his Cabinet-level picks before Thanksgiving, which means time is rapidly running out for there to be any real semblance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the White House come next year.
It was in that context that a social media post with the names and faces of Trump’s most loyal and visible Black supporters this campaign cycle went viral. The post says the people featured “campaigned for the table, but earned no seat…”
They include, in no particular order:
- Dr. Ben Carson, who served in Trump’s previous administration as the Secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development
- Tim Scott, U.S. Senator from South Carolina
- Mark Robinson, Lt. Gov. of North Carolina
- Candace Owens
- Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General
- Byron Donalds, Florida Congressman
- Herschel Walker, former U.S. Senate candidate
Source: X screenshot
All seven of those people actively stumped for Trump and have thus far been left out in the proverbial cold while people who were much less active surrogates are being rewarded with coveted cabinet-level positions. Trump has at various times showered each of them with kind, if not disingenuous words.
Trump has consistently railed against DEI, and now it appears he’s holding true to his word to try to eliminate the assailed framework that promotes uniting people from different backgrounds in an organizational setting.
This is [Trump’s] America.
SEE ALSO:
After Trump Made Historic Gains With Black Men, He Hasn’t Picked Any To Serve In His Administration
