Man who Trump once called 'my African-American' is leaving the GOP over its 'pro-white' agenda


Three years after President Trump referred to a black campaign rally attendee as "my African-American," the man has decided to leave the Republican party and launch a 2020 campaign for the House of Representatives as an independent.
Four-time GOP congressional candidate Gregory Cheadle told PBS Newshour about his dissatisfaction with the Republican party and the Trump administration, saying the party is pursuing a "pro-white" agenda and using black people as "political pawns." Cheadle reportedly aligned with the Republican party fiscally, but the GOP's response to a slew of recent racial attacks by Trump on several congresswomen of color and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) made him re-evaluate his affiliation.
"They were sidestepping the people of color issue and saying that, 'No, it's not racist,'" Cheadle told PBS. "They were saying these people were socialists and communists ... And I thought this is a classic case of whites not seeing racism because they want to put blinders on and make it about something else."
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.
Cheadle also criticized the racial makeup of Trump's judicial nominees, who are predominantly white. He wouldn't go so far as to label Trump a racist, instead saying he believes the president has a "white superiority complex."
Cheadle's words are a major change of tune from his feelings in 2016. After Trump famously told people at his campaign rally to "look at my African-American over here," Cheadle at the time said he was "startled" by people who were offended by the comments, adding that the country is so "polarized and sensitive."
"I'm more critical of it today than I was back then because today I wonder to what extent he said that for political gain or for attention," Cheadle told PBS. Read more at PBS Newshour.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Marianne is The Week’s Social Media Editor. She is a native Tennessean and recent graduate of Ohio University, where she studied journalism and political science. Marianne has previously written for The Daily Beast, The Crime Report, and The Moroccan Times.
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
See the Northern Lights from these bucket list destinations
The Week Recommends The dazzling displays can be spotted across Iceland, Sweden and parts of Canada
-
Crossword: October 7, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot