President Trump tells Bob Woodward he believes there is institutional racism in America that impacts peoples’ lives and that it is “everywhere” and “unfortunate.” But when the veteran Washington Post reporter asks Mr. Trump whether white privilege prevented him from fully understanding that impact and the anger it causes, the president mocks him for drinking “the Kool-Aid.”
The conversation is part of Woodward’s second book about President Trump, titled “Rage,” and was reported from on-the-record interviews Woodward says he was permitted to record.
“Do you think there is systematic or institutional racism in this country?” Woodward is heard on tape asking the president.
“Well, I think there is everywhere,” Mr. Trump responded, “I think probably less here than most places, or less here than many places.”
“Okay, but is it here, in a way that it has an impact on people’s lives?” Woodward asked.
“I think it is and it’s unfortunate,” Mr. Trump said. “But I think it is.”
Woodward then asked Mr. Trump if a privileged life left him out of touch.
“…And do you have any sense that that privilege has isolated and put you in a cave, to a certain extent, as it put me – and I think lots of White, privileged people – in a cave and that we have to work our way out of it to understand the anger and the pain, particularly, Black people feel in this country? Do you see?” Woodward asked.
“No,” the president said. “You, you really drank the Kool-Aid, didn’t you? Just listen to you, wow. No, I don’t feel that at all.”
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8 Responses
The Americas established a secular understanding of race. Historically, social divides among whites were religious divides. Protestant society was historically more nationalistic which affects American mentalities.
Also, the Democratic Party established social institutions that keep Blacks down. Also, Black Supremacism is endangering people.
“systematic or institutional racism in this country” – sounds like a synonym for Democrats and their followers. Harvard University is an example – an institution that systemically discriminates against Whites and certain Asians.
Biden has been in government for over 40 years. The Dem cities/states are the ones with the worst conditions for … everyone. Systemic Racism exists in the school system and the teacher’s union. Systemic racism seems to exist.. in the Democrat party. Bull Connor anyone?
#Trump2020
When President Trump said it is everywhere, I think he meant globally. The history of civilization is replete with recurring conflicts between races, religions, countries, different languages, and clans/families. Mankind seems locked into ongoing battles for ethnic and religious supremacy. Discrimination and preference go hand in hand, and persecution of “others” occurs globally in many diverse ways. I think he is indicating that this country has made an unprecedented effort to diminish and resolve these issues. However, we are a country of immigrants, as diverse as any on earth. The people and institutions carry their discriminatory luggage, but here we actively work on leveling the playing field, perhaps more than anywhere else and more than any other time. We’ve made tremendous headway, and perfection doesn’t exist anywhere but with God.
He said there is “institutional racism” everywhere in the world, but less so in America. I don’t think he actually understands the term “institutional racism”, and thinks it just means “bad racism”. Of course racism exists everywhere, and of course there is much less of it in the USA than in most places. But “institutional racism” doesn’t exist at all in the USA, though it does exist in many countries.
There certainly is institutional racism– against whites, particularly those of the non-cosmopolitan variety. Open hostility against whites is not only fashionable but offically sanctioned and encouraged. There are numerous cases of individuals who despite having publicly, on the record, made vile, hateful and even explicitly violent statements against white people, have faced no more than the most trivial consequences. Sarah Jeong of the NY Times is just one out of what are countless examples that could be cited. How many people even know about Cannon Hinnant, the five-year-old white boy who was murdered by a black man? (If the races had been reversed…)
Systemic racism only exists in the minds of the far left progressives. They always point out differences between white and Black communities and instigate violence. Most of this racism exists in their imaginations only and they bring it out on a platform and make a lot of noise. Blacks and whites are not arrested or murdered because of the color of their skin. There’s much more behind the violence that runs deeper than skin color. Especially in such a tolerant nation as the USA.