The head of ABC News criticized former President Trump’s recent comments about Black voter support amid his criminal indictments.
At a speech, Trump had speculated about “why the Black people like me” and said they may view him as being discriminated against, like they have been.
Trump said this in reference to facing criminal charges but being indicted for “nothing.”
The ABC president called Trump’s rhetoric “as racist as it gets” in an internal email shared with news outlets.
“No matter one’s politics, the fact that a person running for President of the United States made these remarks period — but also to a public crowd — and with so many black people present — and that they stand with him — is mind blowing. Shocking,” ABC President Kim Godwin wrote.
A network source said the email was part of a discussion about coverage.
“I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing,” Trump said.
“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,” he added. “It’s been pretty amazing, but possibly, maybe, there’s something there.”
Trump’s comments were widely condemned by Black leaders, Democrats and the White House as insensitive.
As the GOP frontrunner, the former president has a history of offensive remarks about African Americans, women and immigrants.
