Donald Trump Jr. says his dad isn't racist because of 'all of the rappers' he's friends with


Donald Trump Jr. sat for an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller last month, where he was charged with the familiar task of defending his father against allegations of racism. In the interview, which The Daily Caller published Sunday, the president's eldest son declared that the efforts to tar President Trump and his supporters with the brush of racism and sexism were "terrible."
The real shame, Trump Jr. insisted, is that the frequent criticisms of his father are in fact undermining the individuals who are "actually" affected by "real" discrimination. "If [saying something is racist or sexist] is your response to any argument you can't win, you actually do a real disservice to those people actually afflicted by it," Trump Jr. said. He warned: "You can only overplay your hand so many times before people start calling your bluff."
Besides, Trump Jr. said, his father is anything but racist. The dutiful son noted his father's various relationships with rappers to prove the point: "I know him. I've seen him my whole life," he said. "It's amazing, all the rappers ... all his African-American friends from Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton … I have pictures [of my dad] with them." Trump is only accused of racism because of his political leanings, Trump Jr. claimed, saying that "it was only until he got into politics that all of a sudden [people said], 'Oh, he's the most terrible human being in the world.'"
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During his presidential campaign, Trump called Mexican immigrants rapists and accused a U.S.-born judge of being biased against him because of his Mexican heritage. As president, he reportedly referred to several African states as "shithole countries." Watch an excerpt of the Daily Caller interview, obtained by Right Wing Watch, below. Kelly O'Meara Morales
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
The rise of the performative male
Talking Point What the latest internet trope tells us about gender roles, dating and male illiteracy
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda