In a wide-ranging interview on ABC News Sunday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump doubled down on a past statement about President Obama, saying that he's made such a mess of things--particularly for African-Americans--that America probably won't see another black president for a long time.
Trump's comments came in response to a question from host Jonathan Karl about a tweet he sent last year declaring that Obama had ruined the presidency for another black candidate for "generations." Trump stood by his tweet, saying that Obama's presidency has set a "very poor standard" and pointing to the unfortunate fact that the African-American community has suffered worse economically than almost any other demographic under his leadership.
"I think that he has set a very low bar, and I think it's a shame for the African-American people," said Trump, adding, "And by the way, he has done nothing for African-Americans. You look at what's gone on with their income levels. You look at what's gone on with their youth. I thought that he would be a great cheerleader for this country. I thought he'd do a fabulous job for the African-American citizens of this country. He has done nothing."
Echoing the sentiment expressed by increasing numbers of black leaders about the economic woes of their community, Trump said they "are worse now than just about ever," specifically citing their deep "problems" in unemployment.
"[Y]ou have a black president who's done very poorly for the African-Americans of this country," Trump concluded.
Trump also said he felt confident about earning the minority vote. "I think that I will win the African-American vote and I think I will win the Hispanic vote," he said.
Here's the transcript of the exchange via ABC News:
KARL: So let me ask you about something you tweeted last year. You said of Barack Obama, "Sadly, because President Obama has done such a poor job as president, you won't see another black president for generations." What did you mean by that?
TRUMP: Well, I think he's been a very poor president. I think he has done a very poor job as president. We have $18 trillion right now in debt and going up rapidly.
KARL: But what did you mean? What --
TRUMP: Wait a minute. The world is -- we don't have victories anymore. China is killing us on trade. Mexico's killing us at the border and also killing us on trade. Mexico's doing unbelievably against us in trade. You look at what's going on with Japan. You look at what's going on with Vietnam. You look at Saudi Arabia, makes $1 billion a day and we defend them. We get nothing.
KARL: I understand your critique. But why do you say that means we won't see another black president for generations?
TRUMP: Because I think that he has set a very poor standard. I think that he has set a very low bar and I think it's a shame for the African-American people. And by the way, he has done nothing for African-Americans. You look at what's gone on with their income levels. You look at what's gone on with their youth. I thought that he would be a great cheerleader for this country. I thought he'd do a fabulous job for the African American citizens of this country. He has done nothing. They are worse now than just about ever and --
KARL: But --
TRUMP: -- they are -- excuse me. They have problems now in terms of unemployment numbers, look at their unemployment numbers. And you have -- here you have a black president who's done very poorly for the African-Americans of this country. And I think that I will win the African-American vote and I think I will win the Hispanic vote. And if you see the recent polls that came out, Jon, you'll see that because I'm leading in the Hispanic vote.
