Remarks by President Trump at a Reception for National African American History Month | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    East Room  •  February 21, 2019  •  6:44 P.M. EST

President Trump, and First Lady Melania celebrating Black History Month in the East Room of the White House: Above. (White House photo)     Click image to expand.

    AUDIENCE: Trump! Trump! Trump!

    THE PRESIDENT: Wow. Thank you very much. Wow, what a good group this is. This is the future. This is the future. (Applause.) True. That's true.

    The First Lady and I are thrilled to host so many friends, and pastors, and government leaders. And our stage is being filled up with a bunch of winners like you. Because I've known you for a long time, Bob, and I want to thank you very much. A special - a special guy, a special friend for a long time. To be at the White House to celebrate African American History Month. (Applause.) Do you like the White House? Right?

    AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah!


    THE PRESIDENT: This is the place. Right? You know that.

    We're also grateful to be joined by our wonderful Vice President and Second Lady, Mike and Karen Pence. Hi, Mike. Hi, Karen. (Applause.) Mike, come on over here. Come on over here. Get up here, Mike. Come on, Karen. What a job they do.

    Today, we are here to honor the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to every aspect of American life, history, and culture. From the earliest days of this nation, African American leaders, pioneers, and visionaries have uplifted and inspired our country in art, in science, literature, law, film, politics, business, and every arena of national life. The depth and glory of these contributions are beyond measure. You know it. I know it. And everybody knows it.

    We especially pay tribute to the African American heroes who have sacrificed in the name of freedom, equality, and dignity for all Americans. (Applause.) Thank you.

    Every citizen alive today, and generations yet unborn, are forever in debt of the brave souls who stared down injustice and championed the eternal cause of civil rights. (Applause.)

    We're joined for tonight's ceremony by many distinguished guests, including Surgeon General Jerome Adams. Where is Jerome? Jerome. Get up here, Jerome. (Applause.) Come on, Jerome. Thank you very much. Hi, Jerome. It's been a little while, huh? Thank you very much. Great job you're doing.

    I'd also like to thank all of the members of my Cabinet who are in attendance. We have a lot of them here tonight, and I want to thank you very much for being here. You're doing a great job. You just take a look at our economy - stronger than it's ever been before. (Applause.)

    And, by the way, as you've been hearing me say: African American unemployment is at an all-time low. Historic low. (Applause.) In the history of our country, it's never been better. So that's a great thing.

    Thank you all, as well, to the young African American activists who are here today. You are really and truly the leaders of the future. (Applause.) And get in there and go get them.

    Since the beginning of our republic, African Americans have given their heart, their love, and their very lives to the pursuit - and you know this better than anybody; you have worked so hard. I guess when you get right down to it, we're all working very hard - but the pursuit of liberty and justice for all.

    During the Revolutionary War, African American soldiers fought at the battle of Yorktown and helped our nation gain independence.

    In the next century, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and countless others risked everything to end the evil of slavery and secure the sacred blessings of freedom. (Applause.)

    And here we are, all together in the White House. This is a great thing. Right? This is a great thing. And this is a very, very special place.

    A century later, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and the immortal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged our nation to fulfill its founding promise that we are all created equal by God. (Applause.)

    In every moment of our history, African Americans have called our nation to greatness. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jackie Robinson. How good was Jackie Robinson? (Applause.) How good was Jackie? As a baseball fan, Jackie was special. He had to be special because that was not an easy journey for Jackie. He was a special man. His courage on the field and off the field stands as an everlasting monument to the triumph of the human spirit.

    African American scientists, artists, musicians, educators, faith leaders, and countless others have lifted our nation to absolutely incredible heights.

    Today, we thank God for all of the blessings the African American community continues to give our nation, and we pledge our resolve to expand opportunity for Americans of every race, religion, color, and creed. (Applause.)

    Since my election, we have created 5.3 million new jobs. (Applause.) People thought that was - and I tell you, you know, I'm very proud of it being the lowest ever in the history for African Americans. But today, right now, we have the most people working in the history of our nation. Almost 160 million people. We've never had that many people working. (Applause.) Right?

    Tell me: How do they beat us on the debate stand when we say we have the best unemployment numbers ever? Right? The best unemployment numbers ever and the most people working ever. The best economy perhaps that we've ever had. We got a lot of things going on here. Very good things. And we cut your taxes, by the way. And we cut your taxes. (Applause.)


    AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

    THE PRESIDENT: You're right. (Laughs.) He said, "Don't ever get tired, Mr. President." (Laughter.) I better not. I better not get tired. (Laughter.)

    Under my administration, the African American poverty rate has fallen to its lowest level. And if you think about that, that's a special category. The poverty rate for African Americans is the best it's ever been. The lowest level it's ever achieved.

    Nearly one million additional African Americans have found new jobs. As a - really, and I think this - we can really attribute it to regulatory cuts or as a result of our tax cuts. The largest tax cuts in the history of our country.

    More than 8,700 distressed communities are now designated as Opportunity Zones. And Mike Pence was just in South Carolina and he was talking about those incredible achievements, Karen - the incredible achievements that have been made with Tim Scott and everybody on the Opportunity Zones. (Applause.)

    And we're bringing in new investments and jobs to places that really need it the most - places that were forgotten, but they're not forgotten with us.

    Through our Pledge to American Workers, we've secured private-sector commitments to provide 6.5 million new jobs and training opportunities. And that also is an absolute, total record. That one is an easy one by a lot.

    Just months ago, we passed groundbreaking criminal justice reform. (Applause.)

    Pastor. Pastor. We have Pastor Darrell Scott. Will you come up here, Darrell? Darrell. Darrell, get up here. (Applause.) He's always defending me on television. (Laughter.) And I'll tell you, if you want somebody to defend you, this is about as good as you can get. I want to - he is brutal. Sometimes I say, "You're a pastor?" You're the toughest pastor I've ever - (laughter) - thank you, Darrell.

    This long-awaited legislation reform - and it's really the sentencing laws that nobody thought we could get this done. We worked with conservatives and liberals, and those in the middle. We worked with a lot of people and we got it done. Nobody thought this - you know, they've been trying to get this done for 25 years, but we got it done - criminal justice reform. The laws are disproportionately - as you know, they harmed African American communities, and far, far greater than anybody else. And it gives former inmates a second chance at life.

    We are very proud to be joined tonight by a citizen who transformed her life while in prison and is now the first woman to be released under the FIRST STEP Act, Catherine Toney. Where's Catherine? (Applause.)

    Do you want to say something? Come on.

    AUDIENCE: Catherine! Catherine! Catherine!

    MS. TONEY: Yes, I just want to thank the President and everybody that worked so hard - Jared - for working so hard on this prison reform FIRST STEP Act. Because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be standing before you all today - (applause) - with my daughter and my granddaughter.

    I've been incarcerated for 16 years, and it took the President and Jared and the CAN-DO and the Cut Five [sic], and everybody else to free me. And I'm so thankful. (Applause.) I'm so thankful to them. And I'm so thankful to God for the opportunity to be standing before you all. And thank you again, Mr. President. (Applause.)


    THE PRESIDENT: That's so nice. And I'll tell you, as far as criminal justice reform - and other things - Jared, thank you. What a great job. (Applause.) What a great job. He doesn't want praise. He doesn't want praise. But it was so nice to have you come up. And, Jared, thank you. Like, you're best friends. You probably know him a little bit, huh? (Laughter.)

    MS. TONEY: Yes, I do. (Laughs.)

    THE PRESIDENT: That's incredible. He's incredible. Does so much. Thank you, Jared. That was amazing. That was a great tribute to you.

    During the State of the Union Address, I also called on Congress to pass school choice. (Applause.) No child should be trapped in a failing school that stands in the way of their dreams. Every citizen, of every background, deserves a government that puts their needs first. (Applause.) Like your hat, right? (Laughs.) Like that hat.