Before he ran for President of the United States, Donald Trump wasn't branded a racist. And he tried to remind hundreds of black leaders and supporters of exactly that during a White House event to celebrate Black History Month on Wednesday.
The event was held, in part, to reflect on the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to expand economic opportunity, strengthen education, and promote justice for Americans.
"Through targeted policies and broad reforms, President Trump has prioritized initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to black families while ensuring prosperity is accessible to every American citizen — fostering a stronger nation united by shared success for all," the White House said in a statement.
Donald Trump, Jesse Jackson, Don King and Muhammad Ali ringside at Tyson vs Holmes at Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 27, 1988. (Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images)
The event included a prepared speech from Trump.
But perhapsthe most sports-minded president in the history of the Republicturned the event into a uniquely Trump experience as he went off-script and told the gathering of his relationship with athletes he calls friends.
"Muhammad Ali was a friend of mine,"said Trump, who bragged about the photograph of himself and the former World Heavyweight Champion he apparently treasures.
"Mike Tyson, boy, I tell you. Mike's been loyal to me," Trump continued. "Whenever they come out they say, ‘Trump’s a racist!' Mike Tyson comes out and says, ‘He’s not a racist. He's my friend. He's been there from the beginning, good times and bad.' But Mike Tyson's a great guy, and he's been loyal, always so loyal."
Trump has always been a big boxing fan and that has come to include UFC events in recent years, but football and golf had a very special place in the president's ad-lib storytelling.
"And Herschel Walker, speaking about loyal, how good a football player was Herschel?" Trump said to the gathering.
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