NBC News reporter Dasha Burns says Black and Latino Trump voters dismiss concerns about his past comments, focusing instead on his policies on immigration and the economy.
NBC News reporter Dasha Burns faced a wall of resistance from Black and Latino Trump supporters when she tried to confront them on the former president's history of racially insensitive remarks. Speaking on MSNBC on Friday, Burns recounted her experience covering Trump's rally the previous day in the Bronx, a heavily Democratic borough of New York City.
Despite Trump's previous statements that some have condemned as racist and bigoted, Burns found that many of his Black and Latino supporters were unwavering in their support. They told her that they were more concerned with his policies on immigration and the economy, issues that they felt had a tangible impact on their lives.
"They are just so focused on what their lives are like right now, what they can feel tangibly, that when I push back with those comments, they shut that down," Burns told MSNBC host Ana Cabrera.
Burns' observations highlight a complex reality among some minority voters. While many may be aware of Trump's controversial comments, they are willing to overlook them if they believe his policies will benefit their communities.
In the Bronx, Burns encountered immigrants who supported Trump's restrictive immigration policies, even though they themselves had come to the United States legally. They expressed frustration with the city's support for undocumented immigrants, feeling that they had been neglected in comparison.
"We have these immigrants right now that the city is taking care in a way that I've never felt taken care of by this city," one voter told Burns.
Other supporters cited rising gas and grocery prices as reasons for their support. They felt that Biden had failed to address these concerns and that Trump could offer better solutions.
"Black and Latino voters that are sick of how much they're paying for gas and groceries, that are frustrated with the situation at the border," Burns said.
Burns admitted that she was surprised to find so much support for Trump among minority voters. She had attempted to push back on their dismissal of his rhetoric, but she was met with resistance.
"They said they don't have a problem with that. They view his actions over his words in terms of what they feel he can do for their community," Burns said.
Her experience reflects the complex dynamics of political support, where voters may prioritize certain policy positions over a candidate's personal conduct. It also underscores the challenges facing Trump's opponents as they try to mobilize minority voters against him in the upcoming election.
