A White House adviser is reportedly working with President Trump to arrange a series of meetings between the president and celebrities to discuss race. Pastor…
A White House adviser is reportedly working with President Trump to arrange a series of meetings between the president and celebrities to discuss race.
Pastor Darrell Scott, who co-founded the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, told Politico on Wednesday that he is optimistic Trump will agree to the summits.
The goal of the meetings, Scott said, would be to bring “understanding, a lessening of hostility, a truce, a peace accord.”
The plans have not yet been finalized, and Scott is expected to meet with Trump on Thursday at the White House to discuss the idea further, Politico reported.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Scott said the potential meetings would be open to athletes and entertainers of all backgrounds and political leanings. He named NFL Hall of Famer and Trump supporter Jim Brown, boxer Evander Holyfield and NBA Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes as potential attendees.
He also told Politico he intends to reach out to rapper Kanye West, who made headlines last week when he and Trump shared a cordial back-and-forth on Twitter.
West tweeted last week that «the mob» couldn’t stop him from loving Trump, adding that «he is my brother.»
Trump thanked West on Twitter, and praised him for his «great service to the Black Community.»
Trump has often drawn criticism for his attitudes toward minorities and his comments on race.
Before he launched his presidential campaign, he was the most vocal advocate of the “birther” conspiracy theory that falsely claimed former President Obama was not born in the United States.
After taking office, Trump ignited a firestorm with his comments about white supremacists who held a rally in Charlottesville, Va., last August that led to the death of one person. Trump declared there was blame on “both sides” for the violence.
He has also repeatedly criticized NFL players, many of whom are black, who protest social justice issues by kneeling during the national anthem.
In January, Trump reportedly questioned why the U. S. was accepting so many immigrants from “shithole countries” like Haiti, El Salvador and African nations. Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle criticized his remarks as racist.
