NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump says he wants to hold a major campaign event featuring Black hip-hop artists and athletes at New York's Madison Square Garden. Aides say Trump is reshaping American politics by appearing with leaders of color in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, flipping Democratic districts.
But five months before the first general election votes were cast, the former president's campaign almost obvious organization to demonstrate its ambitious plans.
His campaign has removed key figures from the coalition government and has not announced a replacement. Republican minority aid offices across the country have been closed and replaced by check-cashing stores, ice cream parlors, sex toy stores and other businesses. Campaign officials acknowledge that rolling out the targeted program will take several weeks.
Prospective Republican presidential nominee struggles to take control Chaotic transition to November electionhas been plagued by staffing issues, personal legal troubles, and disdain for “ by the “Make America Great Again'' movement. identity politics” There are signs of discontent on the ground, and Republicans believe Mr. Trump has a real chance of breaking Democratic President Joe Biden's advantage with voters of color.
“Honestly, the Republican Party does not have a cohesive engagement plan for Black communities,” said Darrell, a Black pastor and longtime Trump ally who co-founded the National Diversity Coalition for President Trump in 2016.・Mr. Scott says. Conservatives in communities of color have taken it upon themselves to lead our own efforts. ”
On-the-ground organizing has long been a feature of successful presidential campaigns, which typically invest significant resources to identify supporting candidates and ensure they get out to vote.This fall's mission could be even more important. How few voters are excited Regarding the rematch between Biden and Trump.
But Michigan, a crucial state that switched from President Trump to President Biden four years ago, was overhauled by Trump's supporters after Trump secured the nomination in March. Several party officials have confirmed that the Republican National Committee, where the 2017 election was held, has not yet set up a community center to support minorities. . Oakland County Republican Party Chairman Vance Patrick said office space to house the center was provided by local residents, but staffing has been an issue.
“We have all these carts, but no horses yet,” Patrick said. “So it’s all about making sure we have the staffing when we open these offices.”
In Wayne County, home to Detroit, local Republican officials said they were trying to resolve the issue on their own.
“I'm the one organizing the events, or people are just contacting me,” said Laura McKee, vice chair of outreach for the Michigan Republican Party, adding that President Trump's national campaign Despite claims to the contrary, he noted that he has never seen a minority support center open. team.
In recent years, the RNC has invested heavily in community centers and minority outreach, based on the belief that genuine relationships with voters will make a difference on Election Day, even those who don't typically support the Republican Party. . But since taking over the RNC in the spring, Trump's team has significantly scaled back those efforts.
“Traditionally, the Republican Party has been ineffective in its efforts to persuade black and Hispanic voters to vote for our party,” said Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign overseeing the coalition's efforts and who has worked with Trump for decades. said Lynn Patton, who has worked closely with the house. “But this does not mean that President Trump's hand-picked leadership team will take over leadership of the RNC, embrace the historic defection from the Democratic Party that we are witnessing within Black and Hispanic communities, and create a united effort to perpetuate it.” This is another reason why I insisted on being at the forefront of this effort.
The campaign hired a national coalition director last October. But staffer Derek Silver left the company in March without explanation, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified to share internal discussions. Mr. Silver did not respond to multiple requests for comment. His replacement has not been announced.
President Trump's advisers have rejected criticism that they are not organizing or spending enough to reach minorities. James Blair, the campaign's political director, said the campaign does not “publicly disclose” spending or staffing levels. That's enough to ensure that it continues.”
Patton said President Trump's political team is laying the groundwork for a strong, albeit largely private, minority assistance program.
“We're talking to Black leaders, small business owners, famous athletes, hip-hop artists, some of whom I think would be surprised to know who's talking to us right now. ''' Patton said in an interview. “These are people who have publicly and privately expressed support for President Trump.”
He said it will be several weeks before the campaign rolls out a concrete program. The delayed schedule stands in stark contrast to President Trump's early campaign for re-election in 2020. He launched coalition efforts that included the “Latinos for Trump” and “Black Voices for Trump” programs in summer and fall 2019, respectively.
Trump's campaign argues that regardless of its strategy, it will improve Trump's standing with voters of color, perhaps the most solid segment of the Democratic base. Advisers believe the campaign has momentum among both African-Americans and Hispanics, especially young men, and that Trump can ignore traditional political rules and win on his own terms. He points out that it has been proven.
Polls show that many black and Hispanic adults are dissatisfied with Biden. Biden's approval rating among black adults has fallen from 94% at the start of his term to 55% in March, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. Among Hispanic adults, the rate fell from 70% to 32% over the same period.
An April poll by the Pew Research Center confirmed that the problem is particularly acute among young people. The poll found that 43% of black adults under 50 support Biden, compared to 70% of those over 50. Among younger Hispanics, 29% of younger respondents said they were in favor, slightly less than 42% of those over 50.
The outreach strategy deployed by the Trump campaign relies on using his celebrity and bombastic personality to create viral moments in communities of color, with advisers calling for grassroots organizing and paid advertising. I believe it has a bigger impact than just me.Advisors point out Trump's point Performed at Chick-fil-A in Atlanta, new york bodega and New York City Police Officer's Wake As an example of strategy.
Trump's allies say rising frustration over crime, inflation and immigration could appeal to some voters of color who have traditionally been less receptive to Trump's record and divisive rhetoric. It is claimed that there is.
“Communities of color aren't moving to the right, they're leaning toward Trump,” said Scott, a pastor and ally of President Trump, calling on the RNC to step up its efforts and reform. Scott said black voters support Democrats because of the party's long history of community service, which is unmatched by Republicans, and the 2024 election is an opportunity the party shouldn't waste. He said that. “Trump is a tie. Trump is a magnet.”
Mr. Biden has spent millions of dollars on ads targeting Black and Latino voters in key states. In addition to this, dozens of new offices will be opened in ethnic minority areas. During that time, Biden's team has frequently brought in Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation's first Black female vice president, and other prominent leaders of color.
The Democratic presidential campaign points to record low unemployment rates for minorities, as well as Biden's stance on education and civil rights policies, including funding for historically black colleges and universities and student loan forgiveness.
“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican Party proudly admit that they have no real strategy to reach Black voters because they believe all they need is a rap concert and free chicken. Trump I would be surprised if you haven't paid attention to the unjust relationship between the United States and Black America for years.Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign's Black media director, said President Trump “takes every opportunity to advocate for our communities. He called her a “scammer'' and “scammer''.
After the article was published, Patton responded to criticism from the Biden campaign.
“No one proudly acknowledges the 'unplanned' plan, which has left black and brown voters hemorrhaging with destructive immigration policies and billions of dollars in foreign aid that continue to hound minority Americans.” “It's just a desperate change of direction from the deep-blue party that has been in the party for so long,” Patton said. “On the contrary, we are developing the largest, most comprehensive and strategic coalition effort the Republican Party has ever undertaken, and we are taking that plan to our top agents, our grassroots allies, and even the media. The details have been well received.”
President Trump's personal legal issues may also complicate his plans.
Campaign officials believe they should wait until after Trump's hush-money criminal trial in New York, or longer, to announce any new efforts.
Meanwhile, there are clear signs of a lack of investment in battleground states. An Associated Press reporter visited several former community assistance centers that are now closed.
In Allentown, Pennsylvania, Republicans vacated the Hispanic Assistance Office in January 2023, months after the midterm elections, said landlord Hem Vaidya. He said he remembered the office as a busy place with a Hispanic workforce.
Republican officials recently approached them about leasing the same space again, but declined because they only wanted to use it for eight months. The storefront is currently occupied by his own check-cashing business.
In Wisconsin, the RNC will close its Hispanic Outreach Center in Milwaukee after the 2022 midterm elections, and an ice cream shop is expected to open soon, said Daniel Walsh, the facility's leasing agent.
Matt Fisher, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Republican Party, said the state party continues to operate a black support center in Milwaukee. When it comes to targeting Hispanic voters, the state party and the RNC are still considering how to approach that challenge.
In suburban Atlanta, one of the RNC community outreach centers focused on outreach to Asian American voters closed and later reopened as a sex shop. An Associated Press reporter confirmed the change in ownership of the venue, which was originally reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Alice Stewart, a Republican strategist who has worked for several Republican campaigns, said she is confident the Trump campaign will ultimately do what is necessary.
“But the important thing is that they can't just talk about supporting minorities,” she says. “They have to do it.”
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Brown reported from Washington. AP Poll Director Emily Swanson in Washington and Associated Press Writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan. Michael Rubinkum of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Todd Richmond, Madison, Wis. Julie Carr Smith of Columbus, Ohio; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma contributed.
