Speaking about issues regarding injustice against the African-American community in the United States at the final presidential debate before the November 3 elections, President Donald Trump claimed that he was the least racist person in the room.
Donald Trump, who seeks re-election at the White House this year, was asked by African-American moderator Kristen Welker regarding him calling the Black Lives Matter movement a ‘symbol of hatred’.
“You shared a video of a man chanting ‘White Power’. You said that black athletes exercising their First Amendment rights should be fired. What do you say that is contributing to hate and racial strife,” Welker asked Trump.
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In his response, the President said that summer 2020 was the first time he ever heard the name of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“They were chanting “pigs in a blanket”, talking about police. I said that’s a horrible thing. And they were marching down the street”, Trump said.
“That was my first glimpse of the Black Lives Matter. I thought it was a terrible thing. As far as my relationships with all people, I think I have great relationships with all people. I am the least racist person in the room”, the 74-year-old claimed.
The US President was criticised for his reactions during the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement earlier this year. The protests were carried out following the police killing of an African-American, George Floyd.
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Trump had also previously claimed that he was the only president after Abraham Lincoln to do something for the racial minorities. His opponent, democratic candidate Joe Biden called him out for saying that, accusing him for fuelling racist fires.
“He pours fuel on every single racist fire,” Biden said, adding, “He says about the Proud Boys (a white supremacist group), last time we were on stage, to stand down and stand ready.”
He also accused Trump of being the “most racist president in modern history”.