Former Watergate journalist Bob Woodward’s book muddies the water on whether President Trump believes systemic racism exists in the United States.
Newly revealed tapes from Woodward’s book Rage, which is set for release on Tuesday, reveal Trump saying earlier this summer he believes institutional racism exists in the country and impacts people’s lives, contrary to his public statements denying it exists.
“Do you think there is systematic or institutional racism in this country?” Woodward asked.
“Well, I think there is everywhere. I think probably less here than most places or less here than many places,” Trump responded.
“OK, 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, but I think it is,” Trump said.
Trump made those comments in a June 22 conversation with Woodward, though days before, he did reject the idea that “white privilege” prevents white people from understanding “the anger and pain” of black citizens.
“No. You really drank the Kool-Aid, didn’t you? Just listen to you. Wow. No, I don’t feel that at all,” Trump said.
While appearing in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in September following riots and civil unrest, Trump said he didn’t “believe” systemic racism is present in the country.
“I don’t believe that. No, I don’t believe that. I think the police do an incredible job,” Trump replied when asked.
Other officials in the Trump administration have taken issue with ideas that argue systemic racism is present within U.S. institutions. During an interview with CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer earlier in September, Attorney General William Barr refuted arguments that the justice system is inherently racist, saying reforms implemented over the span of 60 years have constructed a bias of nondiscrimination.
“I think we have safeguards to ensure that it doesn’t really have an effect to someone’s future. I think we’ve made a lot of progress in the past 60 years. To listen to the American Left nowadays, you’d think we’ve gotten nowhere,” Barr said.
In May, Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien also denied that systemic racism exists in the country.
“I think 99.9% of our law enforcement officers are great Americans,” O’Brien said in an interview, noting, “many of them are African American, Hispanic, Asian.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House as to the president’s opinion on the issue.
