Eric Trump: Black Americans “embracing” Donald Trump over criminal charges

In a Sunday morning interview appearance on Fox News, Eric Trump, son of former President Donald Trump, made a claim about his father’s appeal to Black voters amid his ongoing legal troubles.

The younger Trump suggested that the criminal charges against the former president are actually helping attract support from historically-marginalized communities, particularly Black Americans.

Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Eric Trump addressed the upcoming sentencing for his father who was convicted last month on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York in his criminal hush money trial. The former president also faces indictments in three other jurisdictions, with two cases related to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump has maintained his innocence in all cases and says they’re politically motivated against him.

When asked by Bartiromo about his father’s July 11 sentencing date in his criminal hush money trial, Eric Trump shared frustration, implying that the timing was deliberately set to coincide with significant campaign events.

“Well, shocking,” he said. “The next evening, I take the stage at the RNC [Republican National Convention]. Go figure that. Out of all the dates the judge could’ve put this, they have to put it the day before maybe the biggest day outside of an Election Day in an election cycle. I mean, Maria, this is planned.”

However, the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin on July 15, several days after the sentencing date Eric Trump mentioned in his interview.

Newsweek has reached out to Eric Trump’s spokesperson for comment on Sunday via email.

The conversation then turned to the topic of support for his father. Eric Trump claimed that certain communities, particularly Black Americans, are increasingly supportive of his father due to his mounting legal battles.

“These people are saying, ‘Huh, it’s really interesting. They did this to us for a long time. Now they’re doing it to him,'” Eric Trump said. “I might actually want to vote for the guy, you know, who’ll fight back against this as we have tried to for so long. I think that’s why my father has done so incredibly well and that’s why these inner cities are embracing him to the extent that they are.”

In February, Trump told a group of Black conservatives that his indictments are “why the Black people liked me.”

“A lot of people said that’s why the Black people liked me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against,” he said at the time.

Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek at the time: “Crooked Joe Biden and his campaign are trying to gaslight and distract from the fact that Black Americans are turning their back on their destructive policies. By contrast, President Trump delivered policies for Black Americans like passing criminal justice reform, fully funded HBCUs [historically black colleges and universities], created Opportunity Zones, and lowered Black unemployment.”

The claim that legal troubles are broadening Trump’s appeal among Black voters remains a point of debate. Historical voting patterns have shown limited support for Trump among Black voters, with exit polls from the 2020 election indicating that approximately 12 percent of Black voters supported him – a slight increase from 2016, but still a minority of the demographic.

Recent polls suggest a complex shift in Black voter sentiments towards former President Donald Trump, challenging previous assumptions about his appeal to this demographic. While historically, Trump has received limited support from Black voters, new data indicates a potential change in this trend.

A June 2024 poll conducted by USA Today and Suffolk University in the swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania reveals an increase in Trump’s support among Black voters compared to the 2020 election. This uptick occurs alongside a decline in Biden’s backing from this crucial voting bloc in these swing states.

Despite Trump’s gains, Biden still maintains majority support among Black voters. The poll also highlights a growing interest in third-party candidates and a significant portion of undecided Black voters, indicating a fluid electoral situation.

In response to these shifting dynamics, Trump’s campaign has targeted traditionally Democratic strongholds, including majority-Black urban areas like Philadelphia and the Bronx, New York. These efforts suggest an attempt to capitalize on potential changes in voter sentiment and expand his base beyond typical Republican supporters.