The 45th and 47th Presidents, Donald J. Trump, gave one of the most poignant, laborious, and downright powerful inaugural speeches of my life. Certain parts of the speech will be perceived differently by all of us here at RedState, but for this author, this particular moment was not only unexpected, but unprecedented.
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 20, 2025
In the portion of his speech about unifying the nation and growing support across the spectrum of Americans that led to his election victory and his presidency, Trump specifically expressed a “thank you” and a commitment to black and Hispanic communities.
I want to thank the Black and Hispanic communities for the tremendous love and trust you have shown me with your vote. We set records and I won’t forget it.
“I want to thank the Black and Hispanic community for the tremendous love and trust you have shown me with your vote. We set records and I won’t forget them” – Trump #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/3fPaXNx6ew
— Prince Carlton 🇺🇸 (@_PrinceCarlton_) January 20, 2025
Here’s what I know from years of observing politics and my own personal experience: For decades, the majority of the black community supported the Democratic Party. In 2008, they were so proud to have elected the first black president, Barack Obama, as they saw it as a sign of the end of segregation and inequality, but after eight years of Obama’s presidency they were deceived and disappointed.
While Obama is the most immediate example, any Democratic victory is fitting. When it came to implementing policies promised to the coalition, the black community was immediately forgotten. Instead, the party pursued a policy that was not an expression of gratitude or appreciation, but of contempt and dismissal.
I’ve been following politics for 47 years, and to my knowledge no Democratic or Republican politician has explicitly thanked the black and Hispanic communities in a victory speech; and certainly not in an inaugural speech. The 2024 election signaled the end of that era, and President Donald Trump’s victory marked the beginning of a recent one. He understood this and gave credit where credit was due.
It was all the more significant that Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Day coincided. Trump not only honored the Blacks and Hispanics who supported him with their trust and votes, but he also honored the vision of the great civil rights leader, whose statue stands in the Capitol Rotunda where Trump had just been sworn in on his behalf second term.
If King had not been assassinated in 1968 and had survived to this day, he would probably be a partisan Democrat at age 96, like most black American leaders of older generations. But whatever King himself may have thought about Donald Trump and today’s Republicans, America has clearly moved closer to King’s vision of a society in which racial divisions have disappeared.
✍️ “It is fitting that the inauguration coincides with MLK Day.” Trump’s electoral coalition showed the collapse of racial polarization in US politics Writes Michael Lind
Read the full column below 👇https://t.co/TxJYRjx4X9 pic.twitter.com/Pe9pMxzdUX
– The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 20, 2025
Trump’s strategic mention and specific thanks to Black and Hispanic Americans was not just an empty phrase. It wasn’t buried in the middle of other things, but presented openly and eloquently. It wasn’t a convenient turn of phrase that Trump’s speechwriters found well-executed. It was integrated into the course of the speech with great care. It was honest, expressive and a commitment to continue the work begun during the campaign. Trump said as much in his inaugural address as he continued his thoughts.
I heard your voices during the election campaign and look forward to working with you in the years to come. Today is Martin Luther King Day, and in his honor it will be a great honor, but in his honor we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true. National unity is now returning to America.
Along with Trump’s stated commitment comes the expectation that these communities that have dared to reject the electoral tradition, the so-called racial orthodoxy, and the lies, the slanders, and the gaslighting, will continue to work to unite, to unite, and not just Martin Luther achieve King Jr.’s dream, but her own American dream.
Today we observe and celebrate Inauguration Day and MLK Day – wonderful memories of Dr. King’s belief that America continues to strive to be what its founding documents promised. Congratulations to President Trump and Vice President Vance. May God continue to bless America.
– Condoleezza Rice (@CondoleezzaRice) January 20, 2025
