Trump Demeans Female Black Reporter As She Challenges Him On Black Unemployment
President Donald Trump attempted to silence then angrily demeaned Yamiche Alcindor, a Black female reporter, on Friday when she pressed him on rising unemployment figures for Black and Asian workers.
The put-down occurred after Trump crowed in a Rose Garden statement about a better-than-expected 13.3% unemployment figure for the nation in May. The president shockingly claimed that it was a “great day” for George Floyd — the Black man a white police officer killed last month in Minneapolis — because he would be pleased “looking down” at the jobs stats.
Though white unemployment fell from 14.2% to 12.4% in May, the jobless rate for Black and Asian workers increased slightly. Black unemployment rose from 16.7% to 16.8%.
When Alcindor, who works for PBS, asked the president to explain how he plans to address systemic racism in the country, he held a finger to his lips, then seconds later said: “A strong economy.”
When she asked how worsening jobless figures for Asians and Blacks were “a victory,” as Trump had claimed, he shook his head angrily and told her: “You are something else.” (Check it out in the video above.)
My question to President Trump just now: Why haven’t you laid out a plan to address systemic racism? What is the plan?
His response: A strong economy.— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 5, 2020
My Q to President Trump just now: Overall, U.S. unemployment rate fell by 1 %. Black unemployment rate went up .1%. Asian American rate went up by .5%. How is that a victory?
His response to me: “You are something.”
Note: It’s a crucial question.— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 5, 2020
.@Yamiche: "Black unemployment went up by 0.1%, Asian American unemployment went up by 0.5% how is that a victory?"
President Trump: "You are something else." pic.twitter.com/1B5IqBNzWz— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) June 5, 2020
Trump’s dismissive attitude toward Alcindor — and the issues she raised — only amplified the cause of the...
