Why Did Trump Say "This Is A Great Day" For George Floyd?
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Why Did Trump Say "This Is A Great Day" For George Floyd?
Donald Trump's speech during a Friday news conference addressed the nation's unemployment rate drop, "equal justice under the law," and how he plans to deal with systemic racism by having a stronger economy.
Donald Trump held a news conference on Friday but it's comments he made about George Floyd that has ended up in headlines.
During the conference, Trump said he hoped Floyd was "looking down" from heaven "and saying, 'This is a great thing happening for our country.'"
"This is a great day for him, this is a great day for everybody," he added. "This is great day for everybody. This is a great, great day in terms of equality."
However, it's not exactly clear what "great thing" Trump was referring to. His remarks about Floyd came as he talked about "equal justice under the law," and how it means "that every American receives equal treatment in every encounter with law enforcement regardless of race, color, gender, creed, they have to receive fair treatment from law enforcement, they have to receive it."
\u201cTrump says cities need to dominate the streets right before calling for "equal justice under the law." \n\n"Hopefully George is looking down right now and say 'there's a great thing that's happening for our country.' It's a great thing for him. It's a great day for everybody."\u201d— COURIER (@COURIER) 1591368759
"We all saw what happened last week. We can't let that happen," he added.
Prior to that, he talked about the 13.3% drop in the nation's unemployment rate, referring to it as the "greatest comeback in American history," as well as calling it a "tremendous tribute to equality," leading some to connect his remarks about Floyd to the unemployment drop.
\u201cUtterly reprehensible to use George Floyd's memory to celebrate unemployment figures.\n\nGlobally, people are grieving his death, there's so much pain. \n\nTrump has stoked the division and fuelled the hatred. He\u2019s morally bankrupt.\nhttps://t.co/osR33N38Um\u201d— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@Dr Rosena Allin-Khan) 1591375685
However, it is important to note that unemployment for Black people did not drop, with the unemployment rate increasing from 16.7% to 16.8%.
As the conference continued, Trump refused to answer questions about how a better economy would've protected Floyd while he signed law revisions to the Paycheck Protection Act lending program for small businesses.
"I'd like to sign this bill," he said as reporters shouted questions. "By the way, what's happened to our country and what you now see, it’s been happening, is the greatest thing that can happen for race relations, for the African American community, the Asian American, the Hispanic American, for women, for everything."
At this point, PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked Trump what his plan is to deal with systemic racism.
\u201cReporter: "Black unemployment went up by .1%. Asian American unemployment went up by .5%. How is that a victory?"\n\nPres. Trump waves his hand dismissively. "You are something," he says. https://t.co/73dkLRJqhu\u201d— ABC News Politics (@ABC News Politics) 1591371937
"Our country is so strong, and that's my plan," Trump said, "We're going to have the strongest economy in the world."
She then asked: "Black unemployment went up by .1%. Asian American unemployment went up .5%. How is that a victory?"
"You are something," Trump said in response.
Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck which led to his death, has been charged with 2nd degree murder. Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng, the other three officers who were present during the incident, will be charged with aiding and abetting Floyd's murder.
