Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump - African American History Month Listening Session - February 1, 2017 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:05 (5 sec)

Well, this is Black History Month, so this is our little breakfast, our little get together.

Donald Trump

00:00:05 - 00:00:06 (1 sec)

Hi, Lynn , how are you?

Lynn

00:00:06 - 00:00:07 (1 sec)

Hi. How are you?

Donald Trump

00:00:07 - 00:00:09 (2 sec)

Good. Nice to see you.

Donald Trump

00:00:09 - 00:00:35 (26 sec)

Just a few notes. During this month, we honor the tremendous history of the African-Americans throughout our country, throughout the world if you really think about it, right? And this story's one of unimaginable sacrifice, hard work and faith in America. I've gotten a real glimpse during the campaign, I'd go around with Ben to a lot of different places that I wasn't so familiar with. They're incredible people.

Donald Trump

00:00:35 - 00:00:50 (15 sec)

And I want to thank Ben Carson who's going to be heading up HUD. It's a big job, and it's a job that's not only housing, it's mind and spirit, right, Ben? And you understand that. Nobody's gonna be better than Ben.

Donald Trump

00:00:50 - 00:01:12 (22 sec)

Last month, we celebrated the life of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., whose incredible example is unique in American history. You read all about Dr. Martin Luther King a week ago when somebody said I took the statue out of my office. And it turned out that that was fake news. Fake news. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:01:12 - 00:01:40 (28 sec)

The statue is cherished, it's one of the favorite things in the -- and we have some good ones. We have Lincoln and we have Jefferson, we have Dr. Martin Luther King and we have -- but they said the statue, the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King was taken out of the office. And it was never even touched. So I think it was a disgrace. But that's the way the press is, very unfortunate.

Donald Trump

00:01:40 - 00:02:07 (27 sec)

I am very proud now that we have a museum at the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things. Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and millions more black Americans who made America what it is today. A big impact. I'm proud to honor this heritage and will be honoring it more and more.

Donald Trump

00:02:07 - 00:02:17 (10 sec)

The folks at the table in almost all cases have been great friends and supporters. And Darryl , I met Darryl when he was defending me on television. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:02:17 - 00:02:30 (13 sec)

And the people that were on the other side of the argument didn't have a chance, right? And Paris has done an amazing job in a very hostile CNN community. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:02:30 - 00:02:38 (8 sec)

He's all by himself, seven people and Paris. And I'll take Paris over the seven. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:02:38 - 00:02:42 (4 sec)

But I don't watch CNN, so I don't get to see as much. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:02:42 - 00:02:46 (4 sec)

I don't like watching fake news. [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:02:46 - 00:02:50 (4 sec)

So -- but Fox has treated me very nice. Wherever Fox is, thank you.

Donald Trump

00:02:50 - 00:03:05 (15 sec)

We're going to need better schools and we need them soon. We need more jobs. We need better wages, a lot better wages. We're going to work very hard on the inner-city. Ben's going to be doing that, big league, big time. It's one of his big, big things that he's going to be looking at.

Donald Trump

00:03:05 - 00:03:22 (17 sec)

We need safer communities and we're going to do that with law enforcement. We're going to make it safe. We're going to make it much better than it is right now. Right now, it's terrible. And I saw you talking about it the other night, Paris, on something else that was -- really, you did a fantastic job the other night on a very unrelated show.

Donald Trump

00:03:22 - 00:03:57 (35 sec)

I'm ready to do my part [Inaudible] -- I'm ready to do my part. And I will say this, we're going to work together. This is a great group. This is a group that's been so special to me. You really helped me a lot. If you remember, I wasn't going to do well with the African American community, and after they heard me speaking and talking about the inner city and a lots of other things, we ended up getting -- I won't go into details -- but we ended up getting substantially more than other candidates who had run in the past years. And now we're going to take that to new levels.

Donald Trump

00:03:57 - 00:04:00 (3 sec)

I want to thank my television star over here. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:04:00 - 00:04:03 (3 sec)

Amarosa is actually a very nice person. Nobody knows that. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:04:03 - 00:04:17 (14 sec)

I don't want to destroy her reputation, but she is a very good person and she's been helpful right from the beginning of the campaign and I appreciate it. I really do -- very special. And so I want to thank everybody for being here.

Donald Trump

00:04:17 - 00:04:41 (24 sec)

Could we maybe just go around the room and we'll introduce ourselves and the press can stay for that. And I'm sure they have no questions about last night because it was such a good launch. We have a fantastic hopefully new justice of the Supreme Court, and hopefully that will be -- he'll be approved very, very quickly. He's outstanding in every way. Academically, he's done almost as well as you did, Darrell, in college. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:04:41 - 00:04:51 (10 sec)

Not quite, right? But he's a great -- a great man. I think he'll be a great, great justice and he's been very well received. It was a big evening, very big evening.

Donald Trump

00:04:51 - 00:04:53 (2 sec)

So Paris, why don't we start with you? Go ahead.

Paris Dennard

00:04:53 - 00:05:06 (13 sec)

Pleasure to be here, Mr. President; honored to be here. Paris Dennard. I'm with Thurgood Marshall College Fund. It represents the 47 publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which I know you are very much in support of. So it's a pleasure to be here, sir.

Donald Trump

00:05:06 - 00:05:12 (6 sec)

Well, thank you for supporting me, because I'd be all -- I'd be in wilderness without you. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:05:12 - 00:05:15 (3 sec)

You are so effective. I appreciate it. [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:05:15 - 00:05:15 (0 sec)

Bill Cleveland

00:05:15 - 00:05:25 (10 sec)

Bill Cleveland, retired Capitol Police officer; former vice mayor of the city of Alexandria, and substitute teacher in Alexandria school system. Glad to be here.

Donald Trump

00:05:25 - 00:05:27 (2 sec)

Thank you. Thank you, Bill.

Earl Matthews

00:05:27 - 00:05:29 (2 sec)

Bill's also a Vietnam veteran, sir. [Crosstalk]

Earl Matthews

00:05:29 - 00:05:40 (11 sec)

I'm Earl Matthews, sir. I work for you at the U.S. Department of Defense. I was sworn in an hour after you were. So, I'm also a veteran, and a long-time supporter of yours. I worked for you since late summer and I'm happy to be here, sir.

Donald Trump

00:05:40 - 00:05:42 (2 sec)

And a lieutenant colonel. Good job.

Earl Matthews

00:05:42 - 00:05:44 (2 sec)

Donald Trump

00:05:44 - 00:05:49 (5 sec)

Our vice president... [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:05:49 - 00:05:50 (1 sec)

[Laughter] [Crosstalk]

Belinda Scott

00:05:50 - 00:06:11 (21 sec)

[Inaudible] Belinda Scott, Darrell's wife, New Spirit Revival Center, from Cleveland, Ohio; pastor of New Spirit; great amount of support in that African American community where we are. We love the Lord. We love our new president. And we're praying for our president on a regular basis. That's [Inaudible]. [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:06:11 - 00:06:19 (8 sec)

You know, the one thing I remember [Inaudible] about Belinda, I thought they were married maybe five or six years, because look how they look so young. Should you say how many years you've been married?

Belinda Scott

00:06:19 - 00:06:21 (2 sec)

Darrell Scott

00:06:21 - 00:06:22 (1 sec)

Been together 38. [Crosstalk]

Belinda Scott

00:06:22 - 00:06:25 (3 sec)

[Inaudible] but in the Lord... [Laughter]

Belinda Scott

00:06:25 - 00:06:30 (5 sec)

Thirty-five years.

Darrell Scott

00:06:30 - 00:06:32 (2 sec)

38 under the blood. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:06:32 - 00:06:37 (5 sec)

It's actually amazing. I would have never... [Crosstalk]

Belinda Scott

00:06:37 - 00:06:50 (13 sec)

Can I say this? I'm so grateful that our president gives us the ear. You know, to listen to the community, to listen. And people like us are just here to constantly put that message out into the community.

Donald Trump

00:06:50 - 00:06:51 (1 sec)

Thank you. That's so nice.

Belinda Scott

00:06:51 - 00:06:53 (2 sec)

And we love you for that. We love you for listening and we thank you for that.

Donald Trump

00:06:53 - 00:06:55 (2 sec)

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Darrell Scott

00:06:55 - 00:07:03 (8 sec)

Darrell Scott, pastor, New Spirit Revival Center, and black Trump supporter. [Laughter] [Crosstalk]

Darrell Scott

00:07:03 - 00:07:26 (23 sec)

But speaking of the community, let me just say this real quick. I also told you I'm [Inaudible]. I was recently contacted by some of the top gang thugs in Chicago for a sit-down. They reached out to me because they're so [Inaudible]. They respect you. They believe in what you're doing. And they wanted to have a sit-down about lowering their body count. So in a couple of weeks, I'm going to Chicago...

Donald Trump

00:07:26 - 00:07:27 (1 sec)

It's a great idea because... [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:07:27 - 00:07:28 (1 sec)

... Chicago is totally out of control.D. SCOTT:

Darrell Scott

00:07:28 - 00:07:44 (16 sec)

Absolutely. [Inaudible] we've got to lower their body count. We don't want to talk about anything else; get that body count down. And they agreed that the principals can do it. These are guys straight from the streets. No politicians; straight street guys. But they're gonna commit that if they lower that body count, we'll come in, we'll do some social programs. So they're...

Donald Trump

00:07:44 - 00:07:55 (11 sec)

Well, if they're not going to solve the problem, and what you're doing is the right thing, then we're going to solve the problem for them because we're gonna have to do something about Chicago because what's happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country.

Darrell Scott

00:07:55 - 00:07:57 (2 sec)

But they want to work with this administration.

Donald Trump

00:07:57 - 00:07:57 (0 sec)

Darrell Scott

00:07:57 - 00:08:08 (11 sec)

They want to. They reached out. I didn't reach out to them, they reached out to me. They want to work with this administration. They didn't believe in this administration. They didn't believe in the prior administration. They told me this out of their mouths that they see [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:08:08 - 00:08:09 (1 sec)

Armstrong Williams

00:08:09 - 00:08:16 (7 sec)

Mr. President, I'm a member of the -- what we call the media when we try to be fair... [Laughter]

Armstrong Williams

00:08:16 - 00:08:25 (9 sec)

... and objective. Not all media seems to be in the opposition party. There are those that see good that you do and we're gonna report it [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:08:25 - 00:08:53 (28 sec)

Thank you [Inaudible]. And it is. I mean, a lot of the media is actually the opposition party. They're so biased and really it's a disgrace. Some of the media's fantastic and fair, but so much of the media is opposition party, knowingly saying incorrect things. So it's a very sad situation, but we seem to be doing well. You know, it's almost like in the [Inaudible] we won. So maybe they don't have the influence they think.

Donald Trump

00:08:53 - 00:08:56 (3 sec)

But they really are. They really have to straighten out their act. They're very dishonest people.

James Davis

00:08:56 - 00:09:13 (17 sec)

Pastor James Davis. We've been a -- Mr. President, we've been a supporter of yours from the beginning, alongside Mr. Michael Cohen and Dr. Darrell Scott with the National Diversity Coalition helped to bring out a huge number in the back community with respect to the vote and we're still happy to be in support...

Donald Trump

00:09:13 - 00:09:14 (1 sec)

James Davis

00:09:14 - 00:09:15 (1 sec)

... as we go forward.

Donald Trump

00:09:15 - 00:09:17 (2 sec)

You've been great. Thank you.

Donald Trump

00:09:17 - 00:09:18 (1 sec)

OK. And Lynne, we [Inaudible].

Lynne Patton

00:09:18 - 00:09:28 (10 sec)

Hi, Mr. President. Yes, I am, as you know, the former vice president of the wonderful charity that your son founded, the Eric Trump Foundation.

Donald Trump

00:09:28 - 00:09:28 (0 sec)

Lynne Patton

00:09:28 - 00:09:36 (8 sec)

I've been with your family for about eight years now. Right, Jared ? And I will -- I was an RNC speaker and I will be landing with Dr. Carson at HUD...

Donald Trump

00:09:36 - 00:09:37 (1 sec)

Lynne Patton

00:09:37 - 00:09:41 (4 sec)

... as one of his senior advisers and director of the Office of Public Liaison.

Donald Trump

00:09:41 - 00:09:42 (1 sec)

Lynne Patton

00:09:42 - 00:09:42 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:09:42 - 00:09:44 (2 sec)

That's great, Lynne. You did a fantastic job.

Lynne Patton

00:09:44 - 00:09:45 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:09:45 - 00:09:45 (0 sec)

Lynne Patton

00:09:45 - 00:09:46 (1 sec)

Gerard Robinson

00:09:46 - 00:09:55 (9 sec)

Mr. President, my name is Gerard Robinson. I'm a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and I was proud to be the leader of the education policy team for Trump transition.

Donald Trump

00:09:55 - 00:09:55 (0 sec)

Gerard Robinson

00:09:55 - 00:09:56 (1 sec)

Unidentified Male

00:09:56 - 00:09:58 (2 sec)

That's [Inaudible] behind you [Inaudible].

Unidentified Male

00:09:58 - 00:10:14 (16 sec)

Mr. President, good to be with you. I'm [Inaudible]. Chairman Priebus called me out of my little town to come help run African-American outreach for your campaign. I'm glad to support [Inaudible]. I'm glad to be here and I'll be appointed to help you out at the State Department.

Donald Trump

00:10:14 - 00:10:16 (2 sec)

Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Unidentified Male

00:10:16 - 00:10:18 (2 sec)

[Off Microphone]

Unidentified Male

00:10:18 - 00:10:23 (5 sec)

I'm Tucker Davis. I ran your campaign West Virginia. I'm working for you in the Department of...

Donald Trump

00:10:23 - 00:10:26 (3 sec)

We did well in West Virginia. [Laughter]

Tucker Davis

00:10:26 - 00:10:27 (1 sec)

Coal miners love you.

Donald Trump

00:10:27 - 00:10:29 (2 sec)

And we love the coal miners too. Gonna put them back to work.

Unidentified Male

00:10:29 - 00:10:31 (2 sec)

Leah LaBelle

00:10:31 - 00:10:47 (16 sec)

Leah LaBelle. I was at the RNC and also at [Inaudible] and I helped launch the video series every week, the mid- week message that reached out for millennials and college students and helped launch the [Inaudible] at Howard University.

Donald Trump

00:10:47 - 00:10:49 (2 sec)

You did a great job. [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:10:49 - 00:10:50 (1 sec)

Unidentified Male

00:10:50 - 00:10:54 (4 sec)

That's Chris LaBelle's daughter, recent actor. [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:10:54 - 00:10:55 (1 sec)

Unidentified Male

00:10:55 - 00:10:55 (0 sec)

Monica Alexander

00:10:55 - 00:11:01 (6 sec)

Mr. President, Monica Alexander , executive administrative assistant in Office of Public Liaison [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:11:01 - 00:11:04 (3 sec)

Good. Thank you. That's nice.

Ja'Ron Smith

00:11:04 - 00:11:13 (9 sec)

Mr. President, it's Ja'Ron Smith. I'm with the Domestic Policy Council [Inaudible] team and I'll be focusing on urban affairs and revitalization. So [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:11:13 - 00:11:15 (2 sec)

Unidentified Male

00:11:15 - 00:11:19 (4 sec)

And Howard graduate. [Laughter] [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:11:19 - 00:11:23 (4 sec)

Thank you, everybody.