Despite numerous articles, studies and his own tweets suggesting otherwise, Donald Trump continues to deny any correlation between his presidency and a rise in race-based crime.

But even members of his own party have called him out on being racist in the past, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who revisited his original criticisms of the current GOP nominee before the duo became close in an interview with The Root.

Prompted by the query regarding how many people see him as “a puppet” for the former president, Scott insisted he works alongside Trump to tackle pertinent issues — specifically racism. In fact, Scott detailed a surprising story that, he said, led to the formation of his “healthy relationship” with Trump.

It began in 2017 when the South Carolina senator and Trump had a “serious conversation about race in America” after the former president made insensitive comments regarding the racist and violent “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va.

Around this time, hate crimes were at a record breaking high under the Trump Administration. According to the FBI, the amount of hate crimes doubled between 2018 and 2019, reaching the highest number since right after Sept. 11, 2001.

During the Charlottesville rally, right-wing protesters — many of whom were Ku Klux Klan members and Neo-Nazis — took to the streets to protest the removal of a statue honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The protest was countered by Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists and other supporters.

The 2017 event came to a head when James Alex Fields Jr., a self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi, rammed his car into the crowd, injuring more than 30 people and killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer, according to NBC.

Directly following the tragedy, Trump told the public there was “blame on both sides.” The president also said there were “very fine people” on both sides, seemingly disregarding Heyer’s murder totally. To nobody’s shock, Trump received a lot of heat from his comments, including during a Vice News interview in which Scott said the president had lost his “moral authority.”

The senator told The Root his critique of the former president led to Trump inviting him to the White House for a private discussion.

“I just wanted him to understand how painful the whole thing is from our perspective,” Scott said.

As the first Black senator of a Southern state since Reconstruction, Scott recalled his own family’s deep ties to slavery and Jim Crow. Using his experience as a backdrop to his discussion with Trump, Scott continued: “I didn’t expect to change his [Trump’s] mind on his historical view of race, as much as to educate him on a different vantage point on the issue of race.”

According to Scott, he broke through to Trump, who asked him “‘Can you help me help those I’ve offended?’”

Scott cited his work on providing Opportunity Zones — bipartisan legislation which aimed to fund majority minority communities through “the invisible hand” method — as coming directly from his conversation with the former President.

Despite Scott’s conversation with Trump, the nation is clearly still divided by race: Some 60 percent of Americans said racism worsened under the Trump administration, according to a 2017 PEW Research study. Trump’s claim that immigrants come from “shithole countries” and calling the National Guard on BLM protesters are evidence of the former president’s ongoing difficulties regarding racism.

(Read Tim Scott’s full interview tomorrow in the Root)

28

Marvel Studios unveiled a thrilling glimpse into the future of the Captain America franchise today with the release of the teaser trailer and poster for “Captain America: Brave New World.”

Anthony Mackie reprises his role as Sam Wilson, who officially took up the Captain America mantle in the Disney+ series “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” The teaser introduces a new chapter for Captain America as he confronts a global threat alongside a star-studded cast.

In the film, Sam meets with the newly elected President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his MCU debut. This encounter leads Captain America into a complex international incident, forcing him to unravel a nefarious plot before the world faces a devastating consequence.

Captain America: Brave New World Poster

The film boasts a powerhouse ensemble cast alongside Mackie and Ford, including Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Tim Blake Nelson. Julius Onah directs the film, with Kevin Feige and Nate Moore serving as producers.

“Captain America: Brave New World” prepares to take flight in U.S. theaters on February 14, 2025. Mark your calendars, Marvel fans, because Captain America is ready to face a new world order.

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Following President Joe Biden’s 50-minute press conference Thursday night, where he fielded a range of questions from the White House press corps on foreign policy and national security concerns, Black Democrats say they’re committed to supporting Biden’s reelection campaign.

“I am all in. I’m riding with Biden no matter what direction he goes, no matter what method he takes. I’m with Joe Biden,” U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a close Biden confidant, told NBC’s “TODAY” show.

Clyburn, credited for saving Biden’s 2020 campaign with a crucial endorsement, defended the president’s gaffes on Thursday when he mistakenly called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “President Putin” and later during the press conference called Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump.”

The senior South Carolina congressman argued that Biden’s slip-ups are a result of his childhood stuttering, which has affected his adulthood speech.

“We do know that he sometimes mangles words and phrases, but all of that is almost natural for people who grew up stuttering,” said Clyburn, who said despite his misspeaking, the president “has one of the best minds that I’ve ever been around.”

“The people who’ve been around him will tell you that,” he continued. “I would hope that we will focus on the substance of this man, rather than … sometimes the misspoken words and phrases.”

Chris Walton, a Wisconsin Biden delegate at this year’s Democratic National Convention, told theGrio that Biden’s tendency to mix up his words is nothing new and dates back years.  

“Joe Biden called Barack Obama ‘Barack America’ when he was announced as VP … this is who Joe Biden is,” he said. “I think it’s overblown.”

Walton and other Democrats who spoke with theGrio say they are less concerned about Biden’s age and more perturbed by the fact that Donald Trump remains the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.

“You have a compulsive liar, a serial sex offender, a 34-time convicted felon who wants to literally overthrow democracy –  but [Biden’s] old. Give me a break,” said Walton, who previously served as chairman of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party.  

Michael Blake, former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, described any Biden’s gaffe as an “innocent mistake,” telling theGrio, “The bigger mistake would be Donald Trump winning.”

The Democratic strategist continued, “We can continue to focus on a stutter, or a pause, or a gaffe, or we can actually focus on trying to win an election, so we save democracy [and] so that Black folk can actually have a country and society to live in.”

Don Scott, Virginia’s first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates, told theGrio that his “biggest fear” about the chatter around Biden’s age and fitness is that it could create an “apathy” among voters and push a false narrative that the two major political parties are “alike.”

“We’re not all alike. There is one party, the MAGA Party, that doesn’t like Black folk. That doesn’t want us to be in the room,” said Speaker Scott. “They only want people who think like them, who want to deny the legacy of racism and slavery in America.”

He added, “The fact that they hate the word diversity. The fact that they hate the word equity … that tells you a lot about who they are.”

The Virginia Democratic leader said that “at the end of the day, this is not about Joe Biden,” maintaining, “This is about how terrible Donald Trump will be.”

Democrats say Trump’s criminal cases and his vows to use the power of the presidency to seek “retribution” on his political enemies, among other policy proposals connected to a potential second Trump administration, should be disqualifying to voters.

“[Biden] may be older, [but] Trump’s a compulsive liar,” said Walton, the Wisconsin delegate. “This one is a threat to democracy. This one wants to put Project 2025 in place … it’s not comparable.”

Despite more than a dozen Democrats in Congress calling for Biden to not seek reelection in fear he’ll lose to Trump on Nov. 5, most Black Democrats have publicly defended him. One exception is U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who called Biden staying in the race a “political suicide mission” for the party. 

Blake, a former New York assemblyman, said he thought it was “outrageous” that Torres broke from fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus to “come out against” President Biden.

“Ritchie Torres continues to show people that he does not actually want to collaborate with the Black community,” he argued. Noting that a majority of Black voters agree with CBC leaders in their support for Biden, Blake added, “Maybe Ritchie Torres should remember that.”

Blake said Democrats should be more focused on economic and social issues important to voters. His organization, Kairos Democracy Project, is set to release key data about Biden 2020 voters in battleground states with the Democratic polling firm, brilliant corners. The survey found that after abortion and reproductive rights, Biden voters are most concerned about Social Security and Medicare and voting rights. 

“The coalition of voters that will determine if President Biden gets reelected want us to focus on jobs and Social Security and democracy. They don’t want us focusing on gaffes,” said Blake.

He lamented that for two weeks, the news media and political insiders have focused on how Biden “looked and sounded” rather than Trump, who lied at least more than 30 times during the June 27 presidential debate.

“Media has not at all had the same energy of getting people to pay attention to what Donald Trump said,” Blake explained, “as opposed to benefiting off of the chaos and the energy of what happened to President Biden, which fundamentally is based upon the fear of Trump winning.”

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He added, “I would rather we spend more time directly and daily asking Donald Trump what do you mean by a Black job, as opposed to people spending their time at their jobs and gossiping about Joe Biden.”

Despite the attention on President Biden’s gaffes before and during Thursday’s press conference, most Democrats were pleased with his performance. 

Walton, who vowed to still cast his delegate vote for Biden at the Chicago convention, said the president demonstrated his command on foreign policy. 

“He could give you a whole college-level dissertation on foreign policy, while Donald Trump literally just admitted he didn’t know what NATO was until he became president,” he said. “Biden has been the chair of the [Senate] Foreign Relations Committee. He was the vice president of the United States for eight years. He’s been president for the last three and a half years.”

Speaker Scott said, ultimately, the Democratic Party is “healthy enough to withstand” the strength test of Biden’s candidacy.

“Unlike the MAGA Republican Party, they’re a cult … Donald Trump would punish them if they did, and no one breaks ranks over there,” he argued. “No one questions him even in the face of some of the most hideous and terrible things that he said and done.”

Scott added, “There is no debate that Joe Biden is a hundred times better.”

Last week, Philadelphia’s WURD radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders quit after the CEO said she “violate[d] our practice of remaining an independent media outlet” by interviewing the President using questions that were pre-approved by the Biden campaign.

On Thursday, a Milwaukee, WI radio station came out and admitted their published interview with Biden was edited in agreement with his campaign. According to a statement from Civic Media, directly following the president’s interview with the station’s beloved host, Earl Ingram, “the Biden campaign called and asked for two edits to the recording before it aired.”

The interview occurred following the June 27 presidential debate, after many Americans began to question if Biden is truly fit for reelection. Last week, Ingram admitted to asking Biden pre-approved questions similar to Sanders during a CNN interview.

“I didn’t get a chance to ask him all the things I wanted to ask,” Ingram told ABC News. He continued to say he was simply grateful for the opportunity to speak with the president. “Certainly the fact that they gave me this opportunity … meant a lot to me,” Ingram said.

According to the station, the two edits requested by the Biden campaign were the removal of:

1. “…and in addition to that, I have more Blacks in my administration than any other president, all other presidents combined, and in major positions, cabinet positions.”

2. “I don’t know if they even call for their hanging or not, but he–but they said […] convicted of murder,” in reference to former President Trump calling for the death penalty of the Central Park Five.

The released statement also provided an unedited version of the full interview with Biden. Although the company says it stands by Ingram and his team, Civic Media did apologize to the public for failing to meet listeners’ expectations.

“With a high-profile interview comes a listener expectation that journalistic interview standards will be applied, even for non-news programming. We did not meet those expectations,” the statement said.

It’s important to note that Ingram is a longtime supporter of Biden, and he does not have a journalism background. With that being said, eyes are now on Biden and his campaign regarding efforts to seemingly underhand the media and its listeners.

After admitting to sending questions to two separate radio stations, a Biden campaign spokesman wrote in a statement last week: “It’s not at all an uncommon practice for interviewees to share topics they would prefer. These questions were relevant to the news of the day,” Lauren Hitt said. “Americans have had several opportunities to see him unscripted since the debate.” The Biden campaign also promised to stop sending pre-approved questions to media.

The Biden campaign has not said a word about the unedited version of Ingram’s interview.

19

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is navigating complex personal and financial matters, according to a recent Daily Mail report. A court ruling established his paternity for a daughter born in 2023, raising his total number of children fathered that year to three with separate mothers. This news comes alongside the ongoing pregnancy of his recently married wife.

In 2022, two women filed lawsuits against Hill asserting paternity and seeking adjustments to child support payments. One case, involving Kimberly Baker, resulted in a court-ordered child support agreement confidential to both parties. The court confirmed Hill’s paternity and authorized Baker to receive support while residing in California. Brittany Lackner’s lawsuit also yielded a favorable outcome, with the court recognizing Hill as the father of her infant son.

Further complicating the situation, a third woman, Camille Valmon, confirmed to the Daily Mail that she and Hill welcomed a son together in 2023. This revelation comes just months after Hill’s marriage to Keeta Vaccaro, who is expecting their child. Reports suggest Hill’s total number of children could reach seven or eight, including three from a previous relationship.

Financial implications associated with these developments are significant. The Daily Mail estimates Hill’s child support obligations could surpass $20,000 monthly.

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22

The throne awaits a new heir, and Disney’s cherished Descendants franchise welcomes its fiery successor – “Descendants: The Rise of Red.” Premiering this July, the highly anticipated fourth installment introduces rising star Kylie Cantrall as Red, a character poised to steal hearts.

Cantrall portrays the headstrong daughter of the infamous Queen of Hearts (played by Rita Ora) and heir to the unpredictable Wonderland. Red grapples with the legacy of her villainous lineage while forging her own path in this captivating film that promises an enthralling adventure.

From Disney Fan to Fairytale Lead

In an exclusive interview, Cantrall reflected on her remarkable journey, transitioning from Disney Channel enthusiast to leading a major Disney production. This full-circle moment signifies a promising ascent for the young actress, and fans eagerly await her captivating on-screen presence.

A Soundtrack Fit for Royalty

“The Rise of Red” upholds the Descendants tradition with a music-driven narrative guaranteed to capture audiences. The film features a captivating soundtrack boasting seven original songs, two reprises, and a reimagined rendition of the classic “So This Is Love” from Cinderella. Scheduled for release on July 12th by Walt Disney Records, the “Descendants: The Rise of Red Original Soundtrack” promises a lasting musical experience.

A Global Premiere Fit for a Princess

“The Rise of Red” premieres this Friday, July 12th on Disney+, offering global audiences convenient access to the enchanting story. For those seeking a theatrical experience, an encore presentation follows on Friday, August 9th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on Disney Channel. This global premiere event extends further with a simultaneous launch on Disney+ in over 155 markets worldwide.

A Multifaceted Star

Cantrall’s brilliance extends beyond the silver screen. A flourishing singer-songwriter, she boasts a thriving independent music career. Fresh off the release of an EP inspired by her innovative “10 minute” TikTok series, where she composes songs based on fan suggestions, Cantrall continues to impress with her recent single “Elastic.” Fans can anticipate her next EP, slated for a Fall 2024 release through Artist Partner Group.

Don’t miss Kylie Cantrall’s captivating performance as Red in “Descendants: The Rise of Red.” This exciting new chapter in the beloved franchise promises an immersive experience brimming with music, magic, and a powerful exploration of self-discovery.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Led by host Serena Williams, The ESPYS celebrated a landmark year for women’s sports, with Simone Biles, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Dawn Staley and JuJu Watkins among the honorees on Thursday night.

Staley, coach of the national champion South Carolina women’s basketball team, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Her friend, Tennessee standout Nicki McCray-Penson, died of breast cancer and Staley’s sister was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors,” Staley said. “I have merely been a spectator to such immense courage and resilience.”

Staley’s Gamecocks won the best team award.

Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won as best women’s sports athlete and as best WNBA player.

“It’s crazy to think that a young girl that didn’t even want to play basketball is now up in the running for even one ESPY,” she said in videotaped remarks.

The best men’s sports athlete was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He also claimed best NFL player.

“I been around this kid for a few years now and to watch him grow as a football player, as a teammate, as a leader has been phenomenal,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, accepting on Mahomes’ behalf, “but more than that to watch him grow as a father and a husband has been the best part.”

Biles earned best comeback athlete weeks before she competes at the Paris Olympics. The most decorated gymnast in history withdrew from the team competition at the Tokyo Games to prioritize her mental health.

Clark of the Indiana Fever also earned two trophies, for record-breaking performance in becoming the NCAA’s all-time career scoring leader, and as best college athlete, for her Iowa basketball career.

“I’m a little bit busy in Indianapolis,” Clark said via videotape. “It was a special year in women’s athletics.”

Watkins won best breakthrough athlete, taking the first award after the show began 30 minutes late because of President Joe Biden’s news conference.

The Southern California basketball star had a standout freshman season, leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decades.

“This is crazy,” Watkins said. “I want to thank all the great, powerful women who came before me that made this possible.”

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Williams joked during her monologue at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and later sang after Ciara opened the show with a musical performance. Williams’ older sister, Venus, came out and joked that she had actually been asked to host and the siblings got into a mock argument.

“You may be wondering why I’m doing this,” noted fashion fiend Serena said. “Any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I’m going to take it.”

The ABC telecast returned from a commercial break in the final minutes and began repeating the presentations of two earlier awards. Williams’ goodbye also was cut off, as were the final credits. ABC said a technical glitch in the feed affected the live show in the East and Central time zones. It was to be corrected for tape-delayed viewing in the West.

Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and he mentioned the late Army Ranger’s mother who had criticized ESPN for honoring the royal.

With wife Meghan joining in a standing ovation, the Duke of Sussex accepted the trophy from three service veterans who were injured during their tours of duty. Harry served in the British military for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.

He created the Invictus Games in 2014, which serves as a multi-sport, paralympic-style games for wounded or injured servicemen and veterans.

“This award belongs to them, not to me,” Harry said.

Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, had criticized ESPN’s choice of Harry, saying there are recipients working in the veteran community who would have been more fitting. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Marie, for her attendance and also acknowledged Mary Tillman.

“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect,” he said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”

Retired NFL safety Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. He was diagnosed with ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2011. His nonprofit, Team Gleason, helps people with ALS live purposeful lives by providing programming and support services.

Gleason received a standing ovation when he took the stage in a motorized chair and was kissed by former New Orleans Saints teammate Drew Brees. Gleason’s voice was heard through special technology. His young son, Rivers, stood next to his father and held the trophy.

“For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the families currently living with ALS, all the people living with disabilities or other illnesses,” he said. “I suppose if you have never experienced fear, isolation or suffering, you can roll your sanctified ass right out of here.”

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was best MLB player; Connor McDavid of the Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers was best NHL player; and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was best NBA player.

Cooper Flagg, a senior guard-forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy, and track and field athlete Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura (California) High won the Gatorade National Players of the Year.

The three-hour show on ABC was delayed when Biden’s nationally televised news conference started late and ran 30 minutes into the show’s timeslot.

Peter Welch of Vermont became the first Senate Democrat publicly call for Biden to end his campaign following the President’s shakey debate performance against Trump last month. Since then, this plea has only intensified.

On Thursday night, President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold a news conference at 6:30 p.m ET as he faces increased pressure to drop out of the presidential race. However, some Black experts tell The Root why the very important Black-voter block should and may still restore their faith in Biden.

Bishop Reginald T. Jackson of Georgia, insists Biden should not drop out of the race. “He is the Democratic nominee for president and I don’t believe that he should step aside. They want him to step aside because of his age,’’ he said.

Rev. Jackson, who is the Bishop of AME Church in Georgia, continued. “Are you saying to me that Donald Trump— who lies every time his lips move—is more qualified than Joe Biden just because he stutters? Are you saying that Donald Trump—the man who encouraged insurrectionists try to overthrow the US government—is more qualified than Joe Biden who’s given more than 50 years of his life in service to this country?”

Jackson’s questions maybe rhetorical, but it encompasses the brutal political reality Americans are facing. Biden is hoping that NATO’s 75th-anniversary meeting will be a way to highlight his support for Ukraine in its continued fight against Russia and to galvanize his campaign. It could also serve as a launching pad to re-engage voters with the Biden-Harris campaign.

Biden has always credited Black voters for his 2020 presidential win. In 2020, 87 percent of Black men and 93 percent of Black women voted for Biden. “Because Black Americans voted, Kamala and I are President and Vice President of the United States — because of you,” Biden said at a rally in Philadelphia in May. “That’s not hyperbole. Because you voted, Donald Trump is a defeated former president.”

Fast-forward to earlier this year, when the Wall Street Journal reported that 57 percent of Black men and 77 percent of Black women plan on voting for Biden this time around — quite the palpable shift. Trump has attempted to cash in on this noticeable skepticism, as evidenced by his failed attempt to garner followers at a Black church event in Detroit over the weekend (Biden won nearly 95 percent of the Black vote there in 2020).

But Trump won’t stop attempting to court the Black vote. And thanks to Biden’s wildly divisive debate performance , his gulf with Black voters threatens to grow. Thus the pressing question: How does Biden turn it around?

According to legal expert and former electoral campaign advisor Jarrod Loadholt, Black folks are still in Biden’s corner—it’s just a matter of numbers.

“The majority of Black voters will vote for Joe Biden in November,’’ said Loadholt, who is a legal partner at Ice Miller LLP. “The question is: How many?”

Aside from the numbers, Loadholt said we have to unpack who the Black vote really is. “We’ve got to have a really focused conversation about what Black people have gotten from this administration with that infrequent Black voters set in the swing states that we know will determine this election: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.”

Loadholt says many people, Black people included, are on the bubble about voting, with a couch seeming like the better option.

To Loadholt’s point, Biden has ramped up his Black voter outreach over the last several months, including giving commencement speeches at HBCUs, the launch of Jill Biden’s “Women for Biden-Harris” highlighting Black women-owned businesses and White House listening sessions in Black communities in almost a dozen states.

Good stuff, but to the disenchanted voter this may not be enough.

However, Antjuan Seawright, founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy LLC, encourages Black folks to not necessarily get rid of their reservations about Biden but think about the bigger picture.

“This bump in the road that we are experiencing within our party is one that we must get over very quickly. I think the president must restore the trust and confidence of all voters. But certainly you take care of the most loyal voters first,” he says to The Root.

“The group that continued to stand by him through it all through his careers, both the ups and the downs, personal and professional. And that’s Black voters. And so I think you’ll see the President do that.” Seawright is also optimistic about the Biden campaign. “I think you’ll see that reflective in his outreach over the next coming days and weeks. I think you’ll see that prioritized and how the campaign spends its dollars, its resources, its time and efforts.”

At tonight’s conference, Biden needs to remind Black voters exactly who Trump is and how his being allowed to serve another term in the Oval Office could be catastrophic for our communities. Bishop Jackson’s words perfectly encapsulate this sentiment.

“I think the Democrats need to understand that we are at war. We are at war against Trump. We are at war against MAGA. We are at war against [Project] 2025. We need to deploy all of our troops in this war so we can win this victory in November.”