Donald Trump has once again sparked online criticism after singling out two Black supporters at his Ohio rally, showering them with all kinds of praise, but ultimately declaring he did not know who they were and asking why so few members of their group had turned up. The moment has gone viral, with many critics also pointing out how the two ‘Blacks for Trump’ members looked familiar.
The moment unfolded on Wednesday night at the Shoemaker Center on the Ohio University Chillicothe campus, where Trump was campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump pointed out the two Black men in the crowd.
“Oh, my favorite. Will you two guys stand up, please?” Trump told the men. “Everyone thinks they’re my best friends. I don’t know.” He then identified the pair as members of Blacks for Trump, a Florida-based group that has attended his rallies since his first presidential campaign. “Blacks for Trump. I love you guys,” Trump said. “I don’t know who the [expletive] they are, but they’re around.”
Trump also rejected suggestions that the group’s appearances were staged before turning his attention to its apparent turnout. “And they have a whole group. Say hello to all your friends. How come there’s only two tonight? What’s going on?” he asked. After the men responded, Trump thanked them and declared, “Big progress. Big progress. Thank you very much. It’s an honor.”
Critics Raised Their Eyebrows
The exchange quickly drew attention on social media, where commenters questioned the apparent enthusiasm and joked about the group’s small presence. One user, posting from the parody account, quipped, “It used to be one, so Trump technically doubled his support in this demographic.”
Another commenter, pointed out the group’s long history at Trump’s events, writing that its members had attended rallies since Trump first descended the escalator in 2015. “Now they are at the back of the bus. Hmmm,” the user added. Others questioned whether the supporters were being compensated to attend, although no evidence was provided to substantiate those allegations.
“They definitely look paid,” one commenter wrote, pointing to their matching white T-shirts and lack of other Trump merchandise. The group is known for wearing shirts declaring that Trump and Republicans are not racist. One of its most recognizable figures, who calls himself Michael the Black Man, became a familiar presence behind Trump’s podium during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Wednesday’s exchange was not the first time Trump had highlighted the group. At a Florida rally the previous Friday, he also praised its members and thanked them for voting for him. The Ohio appearance marked Trump’s third visit to the state that month as Republicans made their final push before Election Day. While Trump described the encounter as evidence of “big progress,” the two supporters’ appearance prompted another round of online debate over his outreach to Black voters.
