Biden campaign hits Trump over ‘Black jobs’ remark in new ad

The Biden reelection campaign has launched a new ad hitting former President Trump for his comments about “Black jobs” at the presidential debate. 

In response to the first 2024 general election debate’s only question regarding Black voters, Trump took a shot at President Biden’s immigration stance, arguing that immigrants were stealing “Black jobs.”

“They’re taking Black jobs now — and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people,” Trump said. “They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”

Black Americans and politicians alike immediately flocked to social media to demand what Trump meant by Black jobs. 

Biden’s new 60-second ad, “Not for us,” opens with Trump’s debate comments: “They’re taking your Black jobs.”

Then, in a conversation between two men, the voters posit what Trump meant by “Black jobs.”

“Come on, man,” the first of the voters says. “You know exactly what Trump meant.”

In response, the other voter says Trump must have meant doctors, lawyers and teachers. 

“Entrepreneurs, CEOs?” the voter asks. 

“Not really,” his friend responds. 

“Supreme Court justices?” 

“Probably not.” 

“Presidents, vice presidents?”

“Oh, that’s funny,” the first voter says. 

The dialogue continues, with the second voter saying Trump must be hiring for “one of his failed businesses,” before his friend says, “You know he doesn’t hire us.” 

As the discussion continues, the first voter tells his friend he’s got a “Black job” for him — making sure Trump is never elected again. 

“Alright, bet,” the second voter responds. “I’m in.”

The Trump campaign said Black voters know that Trump created real jobs, and argued that Trump’s economic record was batter for Black Americans than Biden’s.

“Real wages for Black Americans are now lower than they were under President Trump by 3.6 percent. The unemployment rate for Black Americans is currently higher under Joe Biden at 6.1 percent versus President Trump’s record low unemployment rate of 5.3 percent,” said Janiyah Thomas, Trump’s Black media director. “No matter the amount of lies the Biden Harris campaign tries to spin,  Black Americans know that the bottom line is that financially we were better off under President Trump.” 

Trump has been hoping to build support among Black voters, particularly Black men, but former Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Biden-Harris 2024 co-chair, said Black voters will reject Trump come November in part because of the former president’s rhetoric. 

“Donald Trump thinks so little of Black people that he can’t help but to keep saying the quiet part out loud: He thinks only certain jobs are ‘Black jobs,’” Richmond said in a statement. 

“It’s why he launched his real estate career getting sued for not renting to Black people and launched his political career attacking Barack Obama, the first Black president. It’s why he attacked and insulted Congressmen John Lewis and Elijah Cummings, civil rights heroes. In his mind, leading this country is not a ‘Black job.’ To him, my job as a United States congressman or senior advisor to the President of the United States is not a ‘Black job.’”

The new ad is a part of the Biden-Harris campaign’s push to ramp up investments to reach Black voters. 

“Not for Us” will air starting July 5 in local markets including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan during shows such as “The Breakfast Club,” “The Steve Harvey Show” and “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.”  

The 30-second version of the ad will run nationally on American Urban Radio Network and select Reach Media programming.

“Trump has shown us who he is again and again and again, and Black voters are already — loudly — rejecting his racism. We’ll do the same at the ballot box this November,” said Richmond. 

This story was updated at 5:05 p.m.