Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has stated emphatically that he believes Martin Luther King Jr will be proud of U.S. President Donald Trump for creating jobs for black and Hispanic people.
He made the statement during an interview on BBC’s Newsnight on Wednesday saying: “If you look at the policies of Donald Trump, anybody — Martin Luther King — would be proud of him, what he’s done for the black and Hispanic community for jobs.”
“It’s the lowest unemployment in recorded history. You don’t think Martin Luther King would be proud? Look at the unemployment rate we had five years ago. You don’t think Martin Luther King would sit there and go: ‘You’re putting black men and women to work. Lowest unemployment rate in history, and wages are starting to rise among the working class. And you’re finally stopping the illegal alien labor force that’s coming in to compete with them every day and destroying the schools and destroying the healthcare.’ Absolutely.”
Martin Luther King “would be proud” of Donald Trump.
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon says President Trump has done a lot for black and Hispanic people. #newsnight pic.twitter.com/PflQELFMdG
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 23, 2018
This statement didn’t go down well with King’s daughter, Bernice King, who tweeted: “#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words. Bannon’s assertion that my father, #MLK, would be proud of Donald Trump wholly ignores Daddy’s commitment to people of all races, nationalities, etc. being treated with dignity and respect”.
#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words.
Bannon’s assertion that my father, #MLK, would be proud of Donald Trump wholly ignores Daddy’s commitment to people of all races, nationalities, etc. being treated with dignity and respect.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
She further explained in a series of tweets why her father will not be happy about the current crop of leaders and their ways.
My father’s concerns were not sectional, but global. He was an activist for the civil rights of Black people in America, but he was also an activist for human rights. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Further, he would not refer to people as “illegal aliens.” The term is degrading and does not reflect his belief that we are all a part of the human family. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
In addition, he would never pit one group against another in the struggle for justice, as Bannon attempts to use him to do in discussing those he termed as “illegal aliens” and Black people. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Bannon’s comments are like feeding someone empty calories, in that they don’t convey a comprehensive view of #MLK as a global humanitarian who cared about the well-being of all people.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
My father would be extremely disturbed by the climate created by leaders, who have emboldened people to easily express and demonstrate cruelty, predominantly toward people of color and immigrants. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Finally, #MLK would be proud of a livable wage for all and not merely a low unemployment rate. #PoorPeoplesCampaign
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Do you think Bannon has a point that Trump deserves the credit and applause for the low unemployment rate in the United States? Share your views in the comment section.
