The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
Donalds said he is starting to see the “reinvigoration of Black family,” which he described as younger people forming nuclear family units and “helping to breathe the revival of a Black middle class in America.” He went on to say that those family values had previously been eroded by Democratic policies that Black voters embraced after becoming loyal to the party due to the Civil Rights Movement.
“You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together. During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative — Black people have always been conservative-minded — but more Black people voted conservatively,” he said. “And then H.E.W., Lyndon Johnson — you go down that road, and now we are where we are,” he added, referring to the former U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Read the full article. Donalds is considered to be on Trump’s shortlist of potential running mates. As you can see below, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pouncing, as is the Biden campaign.
UPDATE: Donalds has just posted a video claiming that he was taken out of context. See the video below.
Rep. Byron Donalds made the ignorant observation that Black people were better off under Jim Crow.
Fact check. pic.twitter.com/YAiOeaVzPD
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) June 5, 2024
Trump VP contender Byron Donalds claims life was better for Black Americans during Jim Crow pic.twitter.com/MMot0WSKW1
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) June 5, 2024
@RepJeffries on Rep. Donalds: It has come to my attention that a so-called leader has made the factually inaccurate statement that Black folks were better off during Jim Crow…How dare you make such an an ignorant observation. You better check yourself before you wreck yourself. pic.twitter.com/rLsffrs5TS
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 5, 2024
GOP Rep. Byron Donalds suggested that Black families were better off during the Jim Crow era:
“You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together. During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative… But more Black people voted conservatively. And then H.E.W.,… pic.twitter.com/Tc2qnBidqf
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 5, 2024
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to comments made by Florida Republican Byron Donalds that Black people were better off under Jim Crow.
“A so-called leader has made the factually inaccurate statement that Black folks were better off during Jim Crow….How dare… pic.twitter.com/tNXdsE6oAo
— The Hill (@thehill) June 5, 2024
.@RepJeffries you need to check your sources and stop lying to the American people because you and @JoeBiden are losing Black men.
I didn’t say that.
This is what I said
https://t.co/ZE6Qaqoadz pic.twitter.com/GoPh5HnsJM
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) June 5, 2024