ATLANTA — During Thursday night's presidential debate in Atlanta, former President Donald Trump made a controversial remark about "Black jobs," igniting a wave of backlash online. The comment came as Trump was discussing his economic policies and their impact on minority communities.
Trump's statement, intended to highlight his administration's efforts to boost employment among African Americans, instead drew immediate criticism.
"His big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking Black jobs now," Trump said of Biden's immigration policies. "It could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people. They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”
Watch the exchange below:
Trump's claims sparked heated responses from both his opponent on stage and viewers at home.
The reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, was swift and intense. The phrase "Black jobs" began trending within minutes of his comment.
Some users criticized Trump's phrasing, accusing him of being insensitive and out of touch with the complexities of racial issues in America.
"What exactly are Black and Hispanic Jobs," the NAACP asked in a post on X.
"Black voters are EXTREMELY upset about some of Trump's comments from tonight's debate," former Democratic National Convention member @NikkiBarnesFL posted. "The question on the table is "What are Black jobs?"
While some criticized the former president, others coped with their frustration by cracking jokes and highlighting the resilience of the Black community.
User @BlackKnight10K said, "The most important Black Job in 2024 is keeping Trump out of the White House. I hope we get a bonus after we complete the assignment"
As the debate's fallout continues to stir strong reactions online, it remains to be seen how Trump's controversial comments will impact his campaign and voter support among minority communities in the upcoming election. A recent Pew Research poll shows that Biden currently leads the polls among Black voters.