Recently, U.S. Democrats have expressed concern over polls indicating weak support for Vice President Kamala Harris among Black voters, particularly Black men, which some fear could jeopardize her chances in the upcoming election. In response, Harris unveiled an “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” on October 14, aimed at garnering additional support.
U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, a supporter of former President Trump, suggested that there are reasons for this key Democratic demographic to vote for Trump instead. “The significant statistic — which often goes unmentioned — is that during Trump’s first term, wages adjusted for inflation increased significantly for Black men, Black families, and all Americans,” Donalds stated on CNN’s State of the Union on October 13. He noted that the wage gap often criticized by Democrats was actually narrowing in 2019 due to Trump’s economic, energy, and regulatory policies.
While wages for Black Americans and Black men did rise during Trump’s presidency, Donalds overlooked the fact that these wages increased three times faster under President Joe Biden, even amid 40-year-high inflation. Additionally, instead of narrowing, the wage gap between Black and white Americans actually widened during Trump’s administration.
