Listen to this article

On Wednesday, the U.S President Donald Trump has delivered his State of the Union address. He highlighted several African-Americans for promotions, giveaways, and referred to policies popular with minority voters. Trump and his advisers believe an aggressive continuation of a strategy can become a major part of his reelection struggle. Trump administration welcomed 5 black guests in the first lady’s box during the current year. It is noteworthy that Trump’s reelection campaign aired an ad at the Super Bowl. The ad featured an African-American woman Alice Marie Johnson. She was granted clemency in 2019. Last month, The Washington Post conducted a poll and released results. It shows Trump has an uphill battle to win over black voters, but he again used his annual address to gain some ground.

The poll shows at least 80% of black respondents believe Trump was racist. Trump also mentioned the story of 100-years-old Charles McGee. He is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen (a squad of African-American pilots in the Second World War). President said he had promoted McGee to brigadier general and also called out his 13-years-old Iain Lanphier, “Great Grandson”. The White House said in a release that Iain had graduated from a program sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals. Trump also mentioned the story of Tony Rankins from Cincinnati. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in an opportunity zone.

Trump said, “This is the first time that these deserving communities have seen anything like this. It is all working”! Trump also awarded an opportunity scholarship to Janiyah Davis and said, “Would do anything to give her daughter a better future”. The scholarships are designed to allow low-income families to send their children to a private school of their choice. Trump used the opportunity to plug the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act. He also directed Melania to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh. A professor at Morgan State University, Jason Johnson tweeted, “This entire #SOTU is a micro-Targeted campaign speech. This is about the base and suppressing the black vote. Dems aren’t paying attention”.