Ex-CNN host Don Lemon took his interviewing skills to the streets of Cleveland, Ohio, Atlantic City, New Jersey to learn Black women planned on voting for. To Lemon’s (and the internet’s) surprise, several confirmed they were voting for Trump this election season.
“I’m going for Trump. I feel like everytime they don’t want who was good for us to win, they throw somebody Black in our face thinking that it’s going to make us vote for the Black person,” one participant stated in the viral video.
The comments were overwhelmingly disappointed with the content and explanations interviewees were giving for voting for Trump; the most consistent reason being the stimulus check provided to Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is true that Donald Trump’s name appeared on the 35 million COVID relief payments sent to Americans, but he wasn’t the one who pushed for the checks to be distributed among Americans.
Before Trump signed the bill, Republicans rejected proposals to increase the amount of payments. Senate Republicans were trying to block efforts to include $1,200 payments in the relief plan, according to NPR.
Nancy Pelosi called out Donald Trump in attempts to persuade him to encourage his own party to support Americans during the economic downturn. Trump reluctantly signing the bill into law helped avert a government shutdown.
“I’m supporting Trump because it has to change. I vote more for what fits me better as a person rather than voting for a Black person,” another participant added.
Comments on the TikTok post expressed their confusion about the way citizens have interpreted the COVID relief package.
“This is mindblowing!!! How people equate receiving survival money during a pandemic as ‘better times’ is scary,” a comment stated.
In Atlantic City, N.J., residents came to a similar conclusion.
“Trump for the win,” a Black New Jersey resident stated. When Lemon asked why, he replied, “I can’t really call that right now. But, I just feel like she’s [Kamala Harris] not good for President.”
Another Black New Jerseyan believes that Biden was flying illegal immigrants into America without the public’s knowledge, which is also false. As each campaign continues, both Presidential candidates are fighting misinformation among voters.