Clyburn attributes Trump’s gains with Black voters to the media

Clyburn attributes Trump’s gains with Black voters to the media. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a prominent Democratic lawmaker and Biden surrogate, has attributed former President Trump’s gain in support among Black voters to media “disinformation”. Clyburn made the comments on MSNBC after a poll showed President Biden had lost significant ground with Black voters in two swing states.

Clyburn claimed that the media’s repetition of false information was responsible for the shift in support, and warned that it could lead to voter suppression. He also argued that Trump’s claims of being the best president for Black Americans since Abraham Lincoln were misleading, and urged voters to remember Biden’s accomplishments.

The USA Today/Suffolk University poll showed that Biden’s support among Black voters in Pennsylvania had dropped 20 percentage points, and by 22 points in Michigan.

“I know the power of the media … repeating these things rather than reporting what’s actually happening,” Clyburn continued. “That is what’s causing the problem.”

The poll’s findings are consistent with other recent polls, including a CNN analysis that found Biden down to 70% in 2024 from 86% in 2020. MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell pointed to Trump’s comments boasting he’s been the best president for Black Americans since Abraham Lincoln, and his recent visit to a Black church in Detroit as evidence of his efforts to appeal to Black voters.

Despite the polling data, Clyburn remains skeptical of Trump’s chances of gaining significant support among Black voters. In an interview with Politico, Clyburn dismissed the idea that Trump could win over Black voters, saying “Anybody who believes that Donald Trump will get 30 percent of the Black male vote or 12 percent of the Black female vote — I got a bridge down there on Johns Island I’ll sell you.” Clyburn also pointed to the recent polls in Maryland, which showed a significant discrepancy between the predicted outcome and the actual result, as evidence that the polls may not be accurate.

Clyburn’s comments highlight the ongoing competition for Black voters’ support in the 2024 election. The Democratic Party has historically relied on strong support from Black voters, but Trump’s efforts to appeal to this demographic could potentially disrupt this trend. Clyburn’s warnings about media disinformation and voter suppression also underscore the challenges facing Democrats in the upcoming election.

In his interview with Politico, Clyburn also discussed his role as co-chair of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, saying that he meets virtually with the president every Saturday morning to discuss campaign strategy. Clyburn also addressed the recent primary challenge to Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York, saying that he has contributed financially to Bowman’s campaign but has not endorsed him.

When asked about the potential candidates in the post-Biden Democratic Party, Clyburn mentioned Cory Booker, Wes Moore, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro as potential leaders. Clyburn also mentioned that Vice President Kamala Harris is automatically a top-tier candidate as the current vice president.

Clyburn’s comments come as the Democratic Party is grappling with its strategy for the 2024 election. With Trump’s gain in support among Black voters, the party is facing a potentially tough battle to maintain its traditional stronghold on this demographic. Clyburn’s warnings about media disinformation and voter suppression also underscore the challenges facing Democrats in the upcoming election.

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