Trump says legal woes have boosted his support among Black Americans

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that former President Trump pleaded not guilty to four felony counts in Georgia after being accused of engaging in multiple criminal conspiracies to stay in power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

At an event in South Carolina, former President Trump said that his four criminal indictments have increased his support among Black Americans, because they understand he is a victim of discrimination.

While at the black-tie event ahead of the South Carolina primary, Trump compared his legal woes to the history of anti-Black discrimination in the legal system, The Associated Press reported.

“I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing,” Trump said at an event for Black conservatives in the state. “And a lot of people said that’s why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as I’m being discriminated against. It’s been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, there’s something there.”

Trump is facing a tangled web of legal troubles set to play out in courtrooms over the year. He currently is defending himself against a total of 91 criminal charges in the four state and federal indictments. He’s also involved in more than a half-dozen civil lawsuits.

Trump, the GOP front-runner, has used his legal appearances to his advantage, as many of his court proceedings overlap with key primary deadlines.

He is arguing that he’s the victim of political persecution, although there’s no evidence that President Biden or his administration have any part in the charges against him, The AP reported.

Trump has been charged with entering an unlawful conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. He also has pled not guilty to four felony counts after he was accused of engaging in multiple criminal conspiracies to stay in power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

In a separate case, he faces 40 changes for mishandling classified records and attempting to obstruct the government’s retrieval after he left office. Trump has been charged with falsifying business records in connection to hush money for adult film actress Stormy Daniels over their alleged affair.

At the event Friday, Trump referenced the mug shot taken when he surrendered to authorities after being indicted on state racketeering charges.

“When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1,” Trump said. “You know who embraced it more than anyone else? The Black population.”

The news wire noted that Trump also said he knows many Black people because his multiple properties were built by Black construction workers.

Trump is confident that he can earn more of the Black vote in the upcoming election than Biden. His stance on border issues might help him, he predicts, because migrants often end up in cities with large Black populations. He still faces an uphill battle, as Black voters overwhelmingly support the Democratic party, The AP reported.

The Biden campaign released a statement ahead of Trump’s appearance, questioning his “audacity” to speak to Black voters “during Black History Month as if he isn’t the proud poster boy for modern racism.” 

“This is the same man who falsely accused the Central Park 5, questioned George Floyds humanity, compared his own impeachment trial to being lynched, and ensured the unemployment gap for Black workers spiked during his presidency,” Jasmine Harris, the Biden-Harris Black Media Director, said in a statement. 

“Come November, no matter how many disingenuous voter engagement events he attends, Black Americans will show Donald Trump we know exactly who he is,” Harris’ statement said.

The Associated Press contributed.

Updated 12:15 p.m. ET, Feb. 24.