Donald Trump’s long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2019

#perspective

Trump has repeatedly claimed he’s “the least racist person.” His history suggests otherwise.

Donald Trump’s history is indeed marked by several instances of racism. Let’s take a closer look at some key moments:

1. Refusing to Rent to Black People (1970s): In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the Trump Management Corporation for violating the Fair Housing Act. Evidence showed that Trump’s company discriminated against Black renters. Although he signed an agreement not to discriminate, he didn’t admit to his history of discriminatory behavior.

2. Central Park 5 Case (1989): Trump took out newspaper ads calling for the death penalty for the Central Park 5, a group of Black and Latino teens wrongly accused of attacking and raping a white woman. Even after their convictions were overturned, he never apologized for his actions.

3. Racism at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino (1990s): The former president of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino accused Trump of racism toward Black people. The casino paid a fine in 1992 for transferring Black dealers off tables at a patron’s request.

4. Racist Newspaper Ads (2000): When the St. Regis Mohawk tribe considered opening a casino, Trump ran newspaper ads claiming they had a “record of criminal activity” and questioned their ancestry based on their dark skin.

5. Segregating “The Apprentice” (2005): Trump publicly suggested having his reality show, “The Apprentice,” feature teams of successful African Americans versus successful whites, aiming for controversy.

6. Obama Birtherism Conspiracy Theory (2000s): Trump falsely claimed that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, perpetuating the “birther” conspiracy theory. Obama eventually shared his birth certificate, calling out Trump as a "carnival barker".