President Trump issued a brief official statement Tuesday celebrating the holiday of Kwanzaa. The statement capped a year of difficult relations between Trump and the African-American community that have given him low job approval ratings among black voters.
“Today marks the first day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African American heritage and culture. Together, let us celebrate during this joyous time the richness of the past and look with hope toward a brighter future. As families and friends join to light the Kinara, Melania and I extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a prosperous year to come,” the president said.
Trump’s already-strained relations with African-American voters hit record lows for a president after his remarks blaming both sides for violence by white supremacist groups in Charlottesville, Va., with his job approval among this demographic hitting just 4 percent in a November poll.
In 2011, Trump chided then-President Barack Obama for issuing a statement for Kwanzaa, but not for Christmas.
What a convenient mistake: @BarackObama issued a statement for Kwanza but failed to issue one for Christmas. http://t.co/DodG53Rx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2011
